Delivery of Health Care for People With
“Dual Diagnosis”: From the Person to the Policy
I. Leslie Rubin, M.D., Jeffrey J. Fahs, M.D. & Joan B. Beasley, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., L.M.H.C.

The value of utilizing objective monitoring systems incorporating operationalized signs and symptoms of hypothesized mental health concerns in individuals with developmental disabilities is now well accepted by interdisciplinary teams supporting these individuals. This article articulates in detail the establishment and implementation of of an objective monitoring system to track cyclic changes in mood in individuals with developmental disabilities and bipolar disorder. Implementation of this system creates the opportunity for care-providers, individuals with developmental disabilities and/or their substitute consent-providers to make informed decisions regarding treatment decisions to optimize quality of life in individuals affected by this complex illness.