Dual Diagnosis - Addictions and Psychiatric Illness
Substance Abuse, Drug & Alcohol Addictions and Psychiatric Illness
Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe co-occurring conditions of a person suffering from a psychiatric illness (depression, anxiety, mania, bipolar, or psychotic disorder) and a substance abuse problem. Making a dual diagnosis in addicts is difficult as alcohol addiction or drug addiction itself often induces psychiatric symptoms, thus making it necessary to differentiate between substance induced and pre-existing issues. Although studies suggest that one-third to one-half of all addicts also suffer from a co-occurring psychiatric condition, most addiction treatment centers are simply not equipped to treat clients with a dual diagnosis.
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Enterhealth’s full-time, board certified psychiatrists and low client-to-therapist ratio enables us to uniquely address the diagnostic and treatment challenges of dual diagnosis. |
An Integrated Approach to Treatment of Psychiatric Disorder and Addiction
The Enterhealth Addiction Treatment Program treats the two disorders with an integrated approach, where both the substance abuse and/or addiction problem and the psychiatric disorder are treated simultaneously. Enterhealth believes that treatment of co-occurring disorders is a collaborative decision-making process between the treatment team and the dually diagnosed client, and often the client’s family. Recovery is viewed as a lifelong process, not a short-term fix, and includes education about the disease and development of coping skills to handle life’s challenges. Continued involvement in therapy and addiction support groups is generally a component of Enterhealth’s continuum of care.
Pharmacotherapy - Psychiatric Illness and Addiction Medications
A prolonged period of abstinence (30 days or more) from the abused substance is typically recommended before treating the psychiatric illness of co-occurring disorders with indicated medications. In some cases, however, medications can be crucial to reduce depression, anxiety, paranoia, and craving. Any anti addiction medication treatment plan should be prescribed by a physician specifically trained in treating dual diagnosis. Appropriate anti-depression and anti-anxiety medications, including SSRIs or SNRIs, may be appropriate to relieve the symptoms of depression or anxiety. In addition, some anti-addiction medications have proven effective, including opioid replacement therapies or naltrexone (to reduce craving). See Anti-Addiction Medications (Pharmacotherapy) for more detailed information.
Drug and Alcohol Addictions are common in people with mental health problems.
According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association:
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Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse and addiction.
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Thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
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Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs. Source: National Alliance on Mental Illne
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Helping a Loved One with Dual Diagnosis
Helping a loved one with a dual diagnosis can be a roller coaster. Resistance to treatment is common and the road to recovery is long. It’s common to feel alone, defeated, scared, overwhelmed, and confused.
The best way to help someone is to accept what you can and cannot do and set limits. You cannot force someone to remain sober, nor can you make someone take their medication or keep appointments. What you can do is make positive choices for yourself, encourage your loved one to get help, and offer your support while making sure you don’t lose yourself in the process.
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Seek support. Dealing with a loved one's drug or alcohol addiction and psychiatric illness can be painful and isolating. Make sure you're getting the emotional support you need to cope. Talk to someone you trust about what you're going through. It may also help to see your own therapist, clergy, or join an addiction recovery support group.
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Set boundaries. Be realistic about the amount of care you're able to provide without feeling overwhelmed and resentful. Set limits on disruptive behaviors, and stick to them. Letting the substance abuse, addiction or psychiatric illness take over your life isn't healthy for you or your loved one.
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Educate yourself. Learn all you can about your loved one’s problem, as well as alcohol or drug treatment and addiction recovery. The more you understand what you’re loved one is going through, the better able you’ll be to support treatment and addiction recovery.
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Be patient. Recovering from addiction and mental health problems doesn’t happen overnight. Addiction recovery is an ongoing process that can take months or years. Ongoing support for both you and your loved one is crucial as you work toward recovery from addiction.
Enterhealth creates individualized alcohol addiction treatment and drug addiction rehabilitation plans because we know your unique situation calls for an effective one-of-a-kind solution.
Contact Enterhealth today at 800.388.4601 to schedule an admission or for more information, email us using the contact form on the left-hand side of this page.
