Addiction is often viewed as a standalone disease. In reality, however, addiction is often coupled with other conditions. In particular, the combination of addiction and mental illness is common. Through dual diagnosis treatment, both conditions can be treated successfully.

Understanding Co-occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorder is the name for any two disorders that appear at the same time among patients. In the world of addiction, this can mean two concurrent addictions, such as to alcohol and drugs. More commonly, however, a co-occurring disorder refers to having both a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder.

Mental health and substance abuse have a long and intertwined history. By some accounts, more than half of all those with severe mental illness also struggle with some form of addiction. Conversely, nearly half of those diagnosed with addiction also face some kind of mental health disorder.

It is impossible to know whether a person’s primary issue is mental health or addiction, because the two disorders can become so combined. In some cases, a person might use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate mental health disorders. This can be dangerous and it often leads to addiction.

On the other hand, some individuals develop the addiction first. This can create or exacerbate mental health problems. In particular, mental illness may cause things like paranoia, depression and anxiety, all of which can also be side effects of substance abuse.

The Importance of Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis treatment is the treatment of both mental health disorders and addiction simultaneously. This is an important distinction, since not all rehab and addiction treatment facilities follow this approach to recovery. Without dual diagnosis, patients won’t get a comprehensive treatment of their health, bodies and minds.

In the past, dual diagnosis was not common in addiction treatment facilities. Unfortunately, mental health was often ignored altogether. Rather than identifying and diagnosing mental illness, which can become a tremendous stumbling block to sobriety, rehab centers focused only on physical health. Now that mental health and addiction are so closely related, we know that ignoring psychological wellness is clearly a mistake.

Even when mental health become something that treatment centers looked at, sequential treatment was considered the best approach. Sequential treatment, as the name suggests, focused on just one condition at a time. Typically, addiction treatment centers focused exclusively on sobriety. Then, patients were told to pursue mental health treatment on their own.

The problem with this, of course, is that mental health is often the cause of an addiction, or vice versa. It is impossible to treat addiction properly if a mental illness or disorder is left undiagnosed.

Patients who don’t receive comprehensive treatment that includes both mental and substance abuse disorders are less like to achieve sobriety in the long term. It is not enough just to go through the motions of a rehab program. The goal should be lifelong sobriety, not a short-term detox that leads to relapse.

Dual diagnosis treatment can go a long way in preventing relapse. To start, patients will understand how to treat their mental health disorders, and they will understand the connection between mental health and addiction. With the right tools, resources and support, it will be far easier to achieve health and sobriety, not to mention resist cravings, temptations and relapse.

Therapies and Methods Used in Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Instead, it utilizes a wide range of therapies and treatment methods to best address the needs of patients. The key is to use treatment approaches that account for both mental health and substance abuse.

One of the first things that can be used in dual diagnosis treatment is pharmacological treatment. Depending on the mental illness, medication might be necessary for patients. The right medication can lessen the impact of mental illness, which can go a long way in reducing a patient’s desire for drugs or alcohol.

Since some medications can be addictive, or can worsen a person’s substance abuse problems, it is key to have this done by someone familiar with addiction treatment. That way, patients can get treatment that helps their mental health but won’t sabotage their sobriety.

Therapy is a large part of most dual diagnosis treatment programs. Behavioral therapy, in particular, will seek to change negative behaviors to positive ones. By stabilizing emotions and focusing on positive changes, both cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy can be effective.

One-on-one therapy, also known as talk therapy, can also get to the heart of addiction. This is especially true for those patients who have a history of trauma, PTSD or relationship problems causing them pain. Talking through problems can offer the clarity and peace that addiction can’t.

Making Comprehensive Health the Priority

Dual diagnosis is so critical because it embraces the idea of comprehensive health and wellness. It is not enough to break down individual patients into a series of problems that need to be fixed independently. Health and sobriety are uniquely intertwined, and recovery has to be dealt with in a comprehensive way.

Rehab isn’t a success if patients leave sober but without the tools to treat a mental illness. Rehab isn’t a success if patients complete the program but immediately relapse without the right medication.

Rehab is only a success if patients are given every opportunity to live healthier, happier lives. Treatment that focuses on physical health, emotional fulfillment, mental health and addiction disorders will be the most effective.

A comprehensive approach to recovery can be a lot of different things depending on the patient and their conditions. The only way to know what treatment methods are needed is to analyze all new patients, assessing their health with a full evaluation. Then, it will be possible to determine how best to manage recovery.

Mental illness and mental health disorders are commonly found alongside substance abuse disorders and addiction. It is vital that they are treated simultaneously in order for patients to have the best chance of lasting success. Dual diagnosis treatment programs are designed to address multiple conditions and help patients achieve sobriety and overall health.

Defining Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is exactly what it sounds like. It is when a patient is diagnosed with two separate disorders. Typically, these are a substance abuse disorder, also known as addiction, and some kind of mental health disorder.

Dual diagnosis is more common than many people expect. More than half of those with a mental illness also struggle with substance abuse at some point in their lives. Conversely, nearly half of those addicted to drugs and alcohol suffer from a mental health disorder.

Unfortunately, millions of people who suffer from both addiction and mental illness don’t get the right diagnosis or the right addiction treatment. Often, patients only receive a diagnosis once they are ready to begin addiction treatment at a quality facility. During an intake evaluation or assessment, mental health problems may be obvious to professionals trained in addiction treatment.

The Link Between Mental Illness and Addiction

Clearly, the statistics show that there is an undeniable link between mental health disorders and addiction. However, it is not always clear why that is. There are several theories, and each may be correct for some patients.

One very likely possibility is that those who struggle with mental illness turn to substance abuse as a means of self-medication. This is more pronounced among those who do not have a proper medical diagnosis and who are not using prescribed medication to manage mental illness.

When mental illness is present, it can be incredibly challenging. Without the tools to manage conditions such as bipolar disorder or anxiety, alcohol and drugs can appear to be the easiest and most accessible solution. Unfortunately, adding substance abuse or addiction will only serve to make life harder for many of these individuals.

Another potential cause for the link is that those who abuse substances and struggle with addiction may exhibit mental health conditions as a result of that addiction. This is certainly plausible, because many substances can lead to severe mental illness over time.

For example, alcohol is a depressant and can absolutely lead to depression. Stimulants can cause severe anxiety once the drugs begin to wear off. Many drug users also report paranoia, often as a result of criminal activity or because of their illicit drug use.

Sometimes, both mental illness and addiction are caused by a separate, third factor. This may be the case for patients who have suffered some sort of trauma in their past. Military personnel, for example, may struggle with aspects of their time overseas. This could lead to both PTSD and alcohol abuse.

Treating the Cause, Not Just the Symptoms

One of the biggest mistakes in addiction treatment is focusing on the physical symptoms rather than their cause. It is common for patients to complete a detox and then head straight back to everyday life. Unfortunately, a detox addresses only the immediate chemical dependence. It can’t prevent addiction from taking hold again.

Getting to the root cause of addiction is easier said than done. However, those who struggle with mental illness have a good place to start. Through dual diagnosis treatment, mental health will get the attention that it deserves.

It is not enough to treat addiction for a month or two and then have patients get help for mental health conditions. The two need to be addressed side-by-side in a simultaneous fashion. This way, patients can start to link the two and understand how mental health and substance abuse are connected. Understanding this connection is just one of the ways that the root of addiction can be targeted.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Reduces the Risk of Relapse

Relapse is a concern for most patients who have struggled with addiction in the past. Statistically, a staggering number of people who receive treatment will eventually use drugs or alcohol again. Some of the more effective ways to prevent relapse include creating a support system and completing a high-quality addiction treatment program. For those with mental health conditions, however, the best tactic will be completing dual diagnosis treatment.

During dual diagnosis treatment, patients will learn how to manage their mental health conditions. In many cases, that means pharmacological treatment. Taking medicine for certain conditions means that patients can completely eliminate some of the most traumatic symptoms.

Mental illness, simply put, is stressful. Since stress is one of the major reasons for relapse, there is clearly a problem. Patients who only get addiction treatment, and have unresolved mental illnesses, won’t be equipped to deal with upcoming stress.

There are many different coping mechanisms that can be created and learned to help handle mental health problems. For example, a person who struggles with depression, and turns to alcohol for help, can instead join a support group or even participate in daily fitness classes. The specifics depend on each individual patient, but they can truly make a world of difference.

What Dual Diagnosis Treatment Looks Like

Dual diagnosis is not a set protocol. However, it often includes a significant amount of individual talk therapy. This is the bedrock of addiction treatment and a key part of addressing mental illness. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to find talk therapy making up the bulk of dual diagnosis treatment.

Dual diagnosis might also include medical treatment, particularly for those with a severe mental illness. This could mean pharmacological treatment. Group therapy can also be helpful, and a range of alternative or holistic approaches have the potential to be beneficial.

Many of the people who struggle with addiction also have an undiagnosed or untreated mental health disorder. Treating both simultaneously through dual diagnosis treatment is the only truly effective way to combat relapse and end addiction for good.

The Link Between Mental Health and Addiction

There’s an undeniable link between mental health conditions and addiction. In some studies, more than half of those individuals struggling with addiction also struggle with a mental illness. In addition, half of those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness have had trouble with addiction. Whether mental illness is the cause or a result of addiction, there’s no doubt that these two conditions are intertwined.

Mental health concerns and addiction can be thought of as a chicken-and-egg scenario. In some cases, it’s the mental health condition that appears first. This causes individuals to seek relief, often in the form of drugs or alcohol. Conversely, individuals who struggle with addiction may develop mental health conditions that arise precisely because of their addictions.

Why Dual Diagnosis is Necessary

For anyone who suffers from both a mental health illness and addiction, dual diagnosis should never be optional. This treatment is necessary in order to help patients solve two major problems. Isolating the illnesses and treating them separately won’t be as effective, and it could limit the success of patients in rehab.

Patients who are diagnosed with a mental illness can’t fully benefit from rehab if they are struggling with depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia while receiving treatment. Treating addiction patients with mental health problems may be a waste of time if their mental health isn’t properly addressed. Why? Because the patients won’t be able to absorb new information properly or create a realistic plan for recovery and relapse prevention.

Similarly, patients who are receiving therapy, treatment or medication for their mental health disorder can’t make progress if they are also battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol. An addiction alters brain chemistry, so it will be impossible to tell whether treatment is actually successful until patients are able to maintain their sobriety.

Furthermore, there’s evidence to suggest that both mental health problems and addiction can arise from the same source. For example, patients with childhood trauma in their past, or who have served in the military, might be dealing with PTSD. Simultaneously, these experiences might be driving their addictions. By getting to the root of the problem and addressing it head on, patients may be able to resolve both their mental health concerns and their addictions.

Identifying the Need for Dual Diagnosis Treatment

In addition to understanding the importance of dual diagnosis treatment, it’s vital that the patients actually receive the dual diagnosis to begin with. In some cases, mental health issues can go undetected, which can be problematic throughout the addiction recovery process.

To start, it’s important for patients to receive a thorough assessment or evaluation before being admitted into a rehab program for addiction. This assessment shouldn’t focus exclusively on physical health or the pattern of addiction, but should include key questions that can help identify mental health problems. It’s also integral that admissions staff are trained and familiar with mental health disorders, helping them to identify and diagnose key issues that need to be treated.

Identifying the need for dual diagnosis can be improved by knowing which mental health disorders are most common and which are closely connected to addiction. Depression may be one of the most common mental health conditions linked to addiction, but it’s far from the only one. Other common mental health conditions that need to be monitored include things like anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and PTSD.

What to Expect After Receiving a Dual Diagnosis

The only way to receive dual diagnosis treatment and break free from both mental health disorders and addiction is to seek professional help at a reputable rehab facility. When patients receive a dual diagnosis, they can expect treatment to include a number of different elements. Each combines to transform patients into healthy, sober individuals.

A key part of dual diagnosis treatment is receiving 24-hour care. Medical supervision is necessary as those with mental health concerns may be more volatile, and addiction recovery is an already challenging time. In addition, patients may need to take certain medicines that alleviate their symptoms and restore chemical balance in the brain.

In a residential rehab setting, which is considered to be ideal for dual diagnosis treatment, patients will also be able to foster relationships with staff, therapists and other patients. They will have accountability around the clock, individual and group therapies and access to holistic and alternative therapies that can contribute to recovery.

Tailoring Dual Diagnosis Treatment to the Disorder

Often, the kind of treatment required will depend both on the addiction and the specific type of mental disorder. Individuals with an anxiety disorder, for example, may benefit from small group counseling or even one-on-one therapies if the thought of large groups makes them uncomfortable and unable to focus on the key aspects of recovery.

Those with depression may benefit from specific therapies that boost self-esteem, or they may need antidepressants that can lift the fog. Of course, it’s important for physicians prescribing these medications to understand any risks of addiction to prevent any improper use of the medicine. Skill and fitness-based therapies, such as yoga therapy or art therapy, can be helpful in developing confidence and making progress.

Personality disorders, which can include narcissism, histrionic personality disorder or borderline personality disorder, often benefit from dialectical behavioral therapy. These individual therapy sessions target behavioral changes without confrontation or negativity, which can inhibit progress and improvement.

When mental health and addiction are simultaneously present, patients need dual diagnosis treatment. Isolating either mental health or addiction at the risk of the other factor can lead to greater problems down the road. The treatment of co-occurring disorders is vital in helping patients overcome illness successfully, and this treatment can be made available in many respected rehab facilities.