Dual diagnosis is extremely common.
Common psychiatric problems that occur with dual diagnosis include:
- Depressive disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias
- Other psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and personality disorders
Those individuals who have been diagnosed as having Anti-social personality disorder are at a 15.5% increased risk for substance abuse. Those individuals diagnosed as having manic episodes, common with bipolar disorder, have a 14.5% increased risk for substance abuse; and individuals who have been diagnosed as schizophrenic face a 10.1% increased risk for substance abuse issues. Therefore, someone with antisocial personality disorder is at a 15.5% higher-than-average risk of being an alcohol or drug abuser.
Many studies have been conducted on dual diagnosis in an attempt to determine which develops first, the substance abuse or the emotional problem. Studies have determined that this varies from person to person. Most often however, the psychiatric problem(s) develop first and substances are used to make the individual feel “calmer,” “more peppy” or more “cheerful.” This would be referred to in the mental health/medical profession as “self-medicating” and is very common for people who suffer from mental illness/emotional problems.
Dual diagnosis treatment helpline can be reched at 800-511-9225.
In other cases however, alcohol or drug abuse is the primary condition and as their abuse continues, they may develop symptoms of psychiatric disorders including depression, fits of rage, hallucinations/psychosis and suicide attempts.
If it is found that an individual suffers from both an alcohol/drug-related problem and a mental disorder/emotional problem, both problems will need to be treated simultaneously. For any substance abuser however, the first step is going to be drug detox or detoxification—a period of time in which the body is allowed to rid itself of the harmful substance. Detoxification should always take place under medical supervision and can take a few days to a week or more depending on the substance abused and the length of time the substance was abused.
Once detoxification is complete, dual diagnosis treatment can truly begin. Rehabilitation for a substance abuse problem usually involves individual and group psychotherapy, education, exercise, following proper nutrition and participation in a 12-step program. Treatment for a psychiatric disorder will vary depending on the disorder. For most disorders however, individual and group therapy is pretty common and medications may be prescribed.
