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When exploring substance abuse treatment alternatives, you might encounter the phrase “dual diagnosis” and wonder “what is dual diagnosis”. Here’s what you need to know.
Basically, when someone experiences a substance use disorder alongside a co-occurring mental health condition, this situation is called a dual diagnosis. Sometimes addiction develops from an existing mental health condition. Other times, addiction can trigger mental illness. Both conditions may also emerge at the same time.
Data from NSDUH reveals that 45% of individuals with substance use disorder experience a co-occurring mental health disorder. Research from NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) indicates that 9.2 million adults in the United States live with a dual diagnosis.
Dual diagnosis requires integrated treatment that tackles both interconnected issues at once, which you can access at Renaissance Recovery.
Exactly what is dual diagnosis in mental health?
Understanding the Meaning of Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis co-occurrence – what does this terminology signify?
Both terms essentially describe the same condition. Dual diagnosis is frequently referred to as a co-occurring disorder. These phrases are more precise than co-morbidity, which describes multiple illnesses appearing together.
The term dual diagnosis describes concurrent substance use disorder and serious mental health condition.
Various substance use disorders can include:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Meth
- Cocaine
- Crack
- Heroin
- Benzodiazepines
- Opioids
Likewise, numerous mental health conditions frequently co-occur with substance use disorders, such as:
- GAD (generalized anxiety disorder)
- Major depressive disorder
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
- Schizophrenia
Countless possible combinations exist with dual diagnosis, making each case unique.
For diagnosing a co-occurring disorder, at least one substance use disorder and mental health disorder must be confirmed. Independent diagnosis of each condition is required rather than viewing symptoms as stemming from a single disorder.
Exploring What Constitutes a Co-Occurring Disorder
Research from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that individuals with mental health conditions are twice as likely to develop substance use disorders compared to those without. Similarly, people with substance use disorders or alcohol use disorders face higher risks of co-occurring mental health disorders than the general population.
Widespread agreement now exists that substance abuse can trigger mental health disorders, while mental health disorders can also lead to substance use disorders. Ongoing research continues examining what causes these conditions to develop together.
Scientists recognize that various overlapping factors can contribute to both substance use disorders and mental health disorders, such as:
- Genetics: Current studies indicate that genetics contributes up to 60% of addiction risk.
- Brain responses: Abusing certain substances can create symptoms that mimic mental illness. Excessive marijuana use can sometimes trigger psychosis.
- Environmental factors: Ongoing anxiety, trauma, or chronic stress can contribute to developing both addictions and mental health disorders.
- Early substance exposure: Young people and adolescents face greater vulnerability to brain damage from substance abuse than adults. Early substance experimentation increases dual diagnosis risks later in life.
Self-medication represents one of the most common triggers with dual diagnosis. This happens when someone tries to alleviate mental illness symptoms using alcohol or drugs (illegal substances or prescription medications).
Temporary relief often results from self-medicating. However, this relief proves fleeting, and the underlying cause remains unaddressed.
Additionally, substance use can create dependence and addiction, which ultimately worsens the mental health condition simultaneously.
Fortunately, you don’t have to face these challenges alone when dealing with a mental health condition or struggling with substance abuse.
Identifying Whether You Have a Dual Diagnosis
Several questions can help clarify this situation for you…
1. Do alcohol or drugs become your go-to when feeling upset?
2. Have long-standing emotional problems gone untreated without any therapeutic intervention?
Answering yes to both questions might indicate an undiagnosed mental health issue that’s driving substance use to manage difficult emotions.
Realistic assessment of your situation is important, though. Life naturally includes emotional ups and downs. However, if you’re experiencing unusually low periods that drive you toward alcohol or drugs, seeking help may be necessary. Many avoid this step, but dual diagnosis problems don’t resolve independently.
For instance, if depression suddenly intensifies and you begin consuming a bottle of wine with dinner or smoking joints to cope, honest discussion with your doctor is crucial. Underlying conditions like bipolar disorder or PTSD might be present.
Identifying the source of negative thought patterns significantly improves your ability to manage triggers and maintain recovery progress.
Without addressing both substance abuse and accompanying mental health conditions, finding a specialized dual diagnosis treatment facility becomes essential for maximizing sobriety success.
How do you obtain that specialized treatment?
Locating Dual Diagnosis Treatment Services
Perhaps you first developed mental health conditions like depression or anxiety before turning to substance abuse. Or maybe long-term alcohol abuse resulted in major depressive episodes. Regardless of how your co-occurring disorder developed, effective dual diagnosis treatment programs address both conditions simultaneously.
SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) advocates for integrated care treatment models for co-occurring disorders. Comprehensive and integrated treatment typically maintains better engagement than attempting to address each condition separately.
Residential rehab frequently proves most effective for dual diagnosis. For those preferring outpatient therapy, programs with greater time commitments can be advantageous. Through an IOP (intensive outpatient program) or PHP (partial hospitalization program), you can access many benefits of inpatient rehab without the costs or limitations.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) frequently plays a role in dual diagnosis treatment. FDA-approved medications help minimize withdrawal symptom intensity and cravings. Various mental health disorders also benefit from medication treatment.
Maximum effectiveness occurs when combining MAT with psychotherapies like CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy). Talk therapy helps you examine connections between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. You’ll also identify substance abuse triggers and learn healthier coping mechanisms.
Holistic therapies complement these evidence-based dual diagnosis treatments to provide comprehensive, whole-body healing and recovery approaches.
Renaissance Recovery’s California and Florida rehab programs feature highly personalized dual diagnosis treatment plans designed to address what’s preventing your progress in life. Contact our admissions team today at 866-330-9449.
Sources
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2713155/
2.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
