What is Dual Diagnosis?
Struggling with drug and alcohol abuse often goes in tandem with anxiety, depression, or other serious psychiatric conditions, such as bipolar disorder. This is referred to as Dual Diagnosis and can make regaining physical and emotional health difficult and complicated.
Getting treatment for only one side of this overwhelming coin can lead to frustration for both patients and their families. It is essential that rehabilitation focus on both the addiction and the psychiatric symptoms involved.
Since the 1980s mental health professionals have recognized the intricate nature of Dual Diagnosis. Studies have shown that treating patients separately for their addiction problem and psychiatric disorders bounces that patient back and forth between the issues. It just isn't effective.
No longer being dependent on alcohol or drugs does not mean that the patient suddenly is free from paralyzing anxiety and depression, or that bipolar symptoms miraculously disappear. Many people with an addiction have been drinking or using drugs in order to mask or dampen underlying psychiatric problems.
Family members are often the ones who have noticed which came first: psychiatric factors or substance abuse. They are crucial in supporting a patient make those first steps towards the correct treatment.
It is very important that a person suffering from Dual Diagnosis received focused Dual Diagnosis rehabilitation and treatment. This integrated care has been recognized as the most important factor in the successful rehabilitation of a patient with a multi-problem diagnosis.
Common Disorders Co-occurring with Addiction
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Other Resources on Co-occurring & Dual Diagnosed Disorders