Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Some individuals may experience multiple problems simultaneously, and these issues can worsen each other. Even if the problems do not directly influence each other, dealing with both at the same time can be emotionally and mentally challenging. In many situations, the problems are interconnected and can compound each other.
Substance use disorders and mental health issues often occur together in a person, with each one making the other worse. Addressing one usually means addressing the other to effectively help the patient.
At Sivana Rehab, we offer treatment for substance use, behavioural addictions, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Our treatment centre is located in Bali.
What is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis, also known as comorbidity or co-occurring disorders, is when a person has both a mental illness and a substance use disorder, which are often interconnected and can exacerbate each other. Comorbid disorders can often complicate treatment as symptoms of one may sometimes mask or mimic symptoms of the other, which can make it difficult for some people to get accurate treatment.
What are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Common examples of comorbid disorders include depression and alcoholism, as many depressed people often turn to alcohol to cope, and alcohol is a depressant that can lead to depressive symptoms.
Another example is a person with trauma who uses drugs. This is because many people with trauma use drugs to numb their emotional pain. People who have anxiety disorders may also misuse prescription medication such as benzodiazepines.
Treatment Programme for Co-Occurring Disorders
A dual diagnosis programme is aimed at addressing comorbidities. As such, a patient needs to be comprehensively addressed to accurately diagnose the mental health condition and the substance use disorder. This may include getting a detailed family history, a thorough psychiatric evaluation, and interviewing friends, family, and anyone else who may have close proximity to the patient.
After an assessment, a personalised treatment plan is devised based on the assessment results. The treatment will consist of therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI).
Depending on the patient’s mental health condition, medications may be prescribed to manage the symptoms. Holistic treatments can also be incorporated into a patient’s treatment to help manage the symptoms of their mental disorders as well as their cravings.
In many cases, the intensive treatment found in inpatient care can help a person recover from alcohol or drug use as well as their mental health condition.
Many treatment programmes also integrate career guidance and vocational training to help people rebuild their livelihoods.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problem: Which Comes First?
It can be hard to tell which comes first between substance addiction and mental health. Generally speaking, it will vary from person to person, and identifying which came first can be complicated by lacking mental health resources. For some people, addiction treatment is the first time they ever see a mental health professional.
What is known is that many people who engage in alcohol and drug use often do so because they have an underlying mental health condition, and the only way some people know how to manage their symptoms is by using alcohol and drugs.
It’s also known that the effects of drug and alcohol misuse may include developing mental health disorders. Some substances can alter a person’s brain chemistry so much that they develop mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, with severe cases of substance misuse leading to the development of severe mental disorders such as psychosis.
Regardless of which came first, mental illness and substance use are inextricably linked. Alcohol or drugs can often exacerbate mental illnesses, and a deteriorating mental state can often drive a person to use more substances.
The Impact on Patients and Their Families
Having co-occurring disorders can impact a patient and their family in a number of ways.
Impact on Patients
For patients, it can lead to isolation, as those who suffer from substance use and mental health disorders can often face social stigma.
The presence of co-occurring disorders can also complicate treatment and recovery, as caregivers have to account for disorders at the same time.
Those with comorbid disorders may also experience more severe symptoms than those who don’t. Patients with dual diagnosis can also face difficulty with day-to-day functioning and may have a hard time maintaining employment or meeting other responsibilities.
The interplay of mental health and substance use can also increase the chances of relapse, particularly if the mental health condition is undiagnosed or left untreated.
Impact on Families
For families, the presence of two (or more) disorders can be an added emotional strain. Watching a loved one struggle can make them feel anxious, powerless, and frustrated. This can lead to chronic stress, and family members may even grieve the loss of the person a patient used to be.
Treatment for dual diagnosis can also add to the financial strain that some families may experience during the recovery process.
Family members may also struggle to understand a loved one’s behaviour, leading to conflicts and estrangement. They may also have to take on caregiving duties to keep a loved one safe, which can add to stress and lead to resentment.
Specialised family programmes are often needed to help repair some of the rifts in these relationships.
We Provide Integrated Treatment and Support at Sivana Rehab
On their own, substance use disorder and mental illness are both difficult conditions to live with. Having two disorders at once can be incredibly devastating, and, as outlined above, it can also seriously impact their family and friends.
But substance use and mental illness are treatable, even when they happen at the same time. At Sivana Rehab, we can offer the treatment and support to help patients and their families recover from comorbid disorders.