People who suffer from mental illness as well as drug or alcohol abuse
often fall under the 'dual diagnosis' category. The most frequently
seen mental health problems include depression, bipolar disorder,
personality disorder and schizophrenia. When a person is diagnosed with
a mental health illness, it is often discovered that he or she also has
a history of drug or alcohol abuse. In a study done by the Royal
College of Psychiatry in 2002, it was revealed that people diagnosed
with schizophrenia are six times more likely to abuse drugs as well as
misuse alcohol. Reports published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA) state that approximately 50 percent of those
with severe mental illness are also struggling drug addiction, and 33
percent of alcoholics and 53 percent of drug users suffer from one or
more severe mental disorder. In total, all individuals diagnosed as
mentally dysfunctional, 29 percent are alcohol or drug (or both) users.
In addition to these studies, there is ongoing research to support
these disorder appear to occur more frequently then was previously
thought and integrated treatments are critical. Unfortunately,
especially in older adults, many physicians do not detect substance
abuse or mental illness, complicating the problem further.
Psychiatric problems commonly seen in a dual diagnosis include anxiety
disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, depressive and bipolar
disorders and others including schizophrenia and personality disorders.
Those who have a dual diagnoses often suffer many consequences
including a violent temper, resistance to medications and an overall
failure to respond to medications or treatment that deals with just one
illness or the other. Dual diagnosed individuals also have a higher
homeless and/or incarceration rate. They tend to be seen in health care
facilities or somewhere in the criminal justice system on an ongoing
basis.
The diagnosis does not only affect the patient, it also has a
devastating effect on co-workers, families and friends. Because a dual
diagnosis is so difficult to deal with, family, friends and co-workers
face many more problems than those who are dealing with someone with
one disorder. A dual diagnosis means the condition is especially
complex and difficult to manage. Families with a duall diagnosed member
may experience twice the problems of those whose family member has only
one disorder and there is research that shows families endure
emotional, financial and social dilemmas that go far beyond those of
families dealing with one disorder.
Ultimately, finding the right integrated services for dual diagnosis
patients is critical to their recovery, and family and friends play a
key role in helping the patient stay in treatment and live a normal and
productive life. Integrated services will allow for a dual diagnosed
patient the opportunity to successfully overcome their addictions and
cope with ongoing treatment for any mental disorders. This integrated
treatment involves teams and programs that work together offering
effective and consistent treatment, which is appropriate to treat the
dual diagnosed patient for each illness that he or she suffers from.