Dual Diagnosis: Everything You Need to Know

It isn’t easy to live with addiction or mental illness. Life is challenging enough on its own. So it’s even more difficult to try to navigate life while managing symptoms of a psychiatric disorder or without turning to the thing you’re addicted to. Now imagine living life with both addiction and mental illness. That’s what people who have a dual diagnosis have to work through every day.

They have to manage the symptoms of their mental illness without turning back to the substance or behavior they used to use for relief. Thankfully, dual diagnosis-focused treatment facilities exist. These locations treat both mental illness and addiction simultaneously to achieve the best results.

What exactly is dual diagnosis disorder? How do you know if you qualify as having the condition? What can you do to treat dual diagnosis? Can it be cured? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about dual diagnosis.

Dual diagnosis disorder describes a person who lives with both addiction and a mental health disorder. There are no requirements for the specific types of addictions or psychiatric disorders a person must have to receive a diagnosis. They qualify for the condition as long as they experience both simultaneously.

In terms of dual diagnosis conditions, addiction doesn’t necessarily refer to only substance or alcohol use. They may struggle with their drug or alcohol use, or they might have another type of behavioral addiction such as:

Similarly, any kind of psychiatric disorder can qualify someone for a dual diagnosis. Common conditions seen in individuals with dual diagnosis include:

Additionally, co-occurring disorders is another name used to refer to dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis was the original term used to describe the condition. Co-occurring disorders are a newer term but they’re often used interchangeably today.

Some people also use the term comorbid disorders when talking about dual diagnosis, but comorbid disorders are more generic. They refer to any combination of physical or mental disorders or diseases. Dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders refer to addiction and psychiatric disorders specifically.

There is no requirement for which disorder comes first when diagnosing someone with dual diagnosis. Clinicians usually don’t consider whether their client’s mental illness or addiction came first when diagnosing them.

For example, some people turn to substances or sex as a way to cope with the symptoms of their mental illness. Those who eventually develop an addiction to their coping mechanism then qualify as having co-occurring disorders.

Another example is people who drink heavily or use large amounts of substances. Excessive drug and alcohol use sometimes lead to lasting psychiatric disorders, which qualifies the user for a dual diagnosis.

Regardless of which disorder came first, dual diagnosis is a serious condition. It’s difficult to live with and it’s also difficult to treat. While clinicians don’t consider which disorder came first while diagnosing a client, it sometimes helps to know when treating them.

There are both addiction treatment facilities and mental health treatment centers. Some facilities offer dual diagnosis treatment that specializes in working with these types of clients. What does it mean to have a dual diagnosis, though?

Ultimately, addiction and mental illness or psychiatric disorder must be present for someone to be diagnosed with a dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis is a serious condition because both mental illness and addictions are difficult disorders to cope with on their own.

Treating addiction and mental health cannot be covered by a one-size-fits-all treatment approach. There are some practiced methods for working with specific types of conditions, though. But the wide range of disorders covered by dual diagnosis makes it an extremely complicated condition to work through.

Some people believe their addiction helps them manage their mental health condition. They find relief from their symptoms in drugs, alcohol, gambling, or other behaviors. In reality, though, their addiction only makes the symptoms of their disorder worse.

It might help them over the short term but it creates a vicious cycle of worsening symptoms and deeper addictions. This cycle, although harmful, becomes a normal way of life and becomes increasingly difficult to escape from as time goes on.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducts annual surveys to gather data on substance use and mental health nationwide. They compile their findings into the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

The survey offers a look into the prevalence of many disorders, including co-occurring disorders that involve substance use disorder specifically. In 2018, there were 46.7 million adults throughout the United States aged 18 and older who lived with some type of mental illness. Additionally, 19.3 million adults lived with an active substance use disorder that same
year.

9.2 million of those adults had both a mental illness and a substance use disorder, or dual diagnosis. In other words, 3.7 percent of the adult population in the United States has co-occurring disorders. These numbers are similar to the results from the 2017 NSDUH but higher than those in 2015 and 2016. The rates of dual diagnosis among specific age groups are:

It’s alarming to see that rates of mental illness, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis are rising. Hopefully, the upcoming report for 2019 will reveal the trend declining. Until then, there is a growing need for specialized dual diagnosis treatment facilities to help these individuals.

People with dual diagnosis differ from those who have only addiction or mental illness. That isn’t to say addiction and mental health disorders are not difficult diagnoses to live with. But co-occurring disorders compound on one another and make life even more challenging.

Living with both addiction and mental illness often results in a complicated cycle of symptoms and addictive behaviors. People turn to their addiction of choice to relieve or distract from the symptoms of their mental illness. This may help in the short-term but it tends to lead to more symptoms as time passes.

Dual diagnosis needs to look at a person’s addiction and mental illness both individually and cohesively. Clinicians cannot only treat their conditions separately or together as a co-occurring disorder. Effective dual diagnosis treatment requires an individualized treatment plan that addresses each aspect of a person and their conditions.

You start to realize the importance of a specific diagnosis for people with co-occurring disorders as you understand the intricacies of the condition. It’s important to address these specific individuals rather than grouping them in with people who have only one part of dual diagnosis.

When diagnosing a person with co-occurring disorders, clinicians do not look at whether mental illness or addiction came first. All that is necessary is the active presence of both conditions. If they simultaneously have an addiction to something, as well as a mental illness, they qualify as having a dual diagnosis.

Treating someone with a dual diagnosis is different, though. It’s important to know which disorder came first when creating a treatment plan because the order affects how clinicians should work with the client.

People who start with a mental illness and develop an addiction require a different approach than those who developed a mental illness from their addiction. But both require separating the person from substances to more accurately determine which disorder came first.

Clinicians cannot provide effective treatment until they know the extent of a client’s mental illness. Some experience relief from their mental illness symptoms after separating from their addiction. Others are forced to face the symptoms of their mental illness without turning to the solution they used before treatment.

Again, though, there is no requirement for mental illness or addiction to come first. If someone experiences both conditions they will benefit from specialized dual diagnosis treatment.

The dual diagnosis was the original term used to describe people with simultaneous addiction and mental illness disorders. A co-occurring disorder is a newer term than dual diagnosis but the two are now used interchangeably.

Some claim co-occurring disorders refer to those who developed mental illness as a result of their addiction. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, though, dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders both refer to the presence of simultaneous illnesses.

Comorbidity is another word used to refer to dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. This term is more general, though, and doesn’t specifically refer to someone with mental illness and addiction.

Instead, comorbidity refers to a person who experiences two disorders or illnesses at the same time. While dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders refer to addiction and mental illness, comorbidity does not refer to any particular kinds of illnesses or disorders.

Sometimes people use the word comorbidity to refer to people with dual diagnosis. Unlike dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders, comorbidity is not as specific of a term. Dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders only describe someone with an addiction and mental illness. Comorbidity, on the other hand, is a more general diagnosis.

Comorbidity describes the presence of any two or more disorders in the same person. They don’t necessarily have to be addiction or mental illness; the term covers many different kinds of disorders.

Still, even though it isn’t as definitive a disorder, comorbidity can be used to refer to people with co-occurring disorders. Comorbidity does cover dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorders, underneath its umbrella. While it isn’t as descriptive as the two other diagnoses, it does imply that the conditions tend to worsen one another over time.

It’s difficult to determine whether someone has dual diagnosis outside of a clinical setting. Sometimes it might seem like someone has both an addiction and mental illness when they really only have one or the other.

For example, what might look like mental illness may simply be the side effects of a drug or alcohol addiction. Clinicians are able to tell whether a person also has mental illness after they are separated from their substance of choice. There are also those who you might think only struggle with mental illness while they keep their addiction hidden from everyone.

Still, dual diagnosis causes many different issues depending on the specific type of mental illness a person has. Someone who has bipolar disorder will show different signs than someone with major depressive disorder. What are some of the most common dual diagnosis issues?

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in adults throughout the United States. The NSDUH revealed that over 7 percent of Americans ages 18 and older had a major depressive episode in the last year.

People with depression have a higher likelihood of developing a substance or alcohol use disorder. Some studies estimate as many as one-third of people who have depression also have a drinking or substance use problem as well.

Drugs and alcohol seem to provide relief from the sadness and hopelessness that are characteristic of depression. Over time, though, they only make the person’s depression worse and may lead to their developing an AUD or SUD, and dual diagnosis.

Many people feel nervous or worried before a presentation at work or a date. There are many situations where these feelings are normal. Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is another level of anxiety, though. People with GAD have a difficult time navigating their daily lives as a result of severe and debilitating anxiety.

Drinking or using drugs might seem like an easy solution to relieving the overwhelming anxiety caused by GAD. It removes the person’s ability to learn to manage their symptoms on their own, though, which makes their anxiety worse over time.

Bipolar disorder is a complicated disorder on its own. There are two main types of bipolar disorder: Type I and Type II. The condition is comprised of manic episodes and depressive episodes that range in severity and length depending on the person.

It’s difficult to manage life with bipolar disorder, especially when it goes undiagnosed. About half of people with bipolar disorder turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to relieve their symptoms. This only leads to more extreme manic and depressive episodes, and it may cause someone to take more drastic measures.

Borderline personality disorder, or BPD, is a condition that describes people with a distorted self-perception, extreme emotions, impulsivity, and unstable relationships. People with BPD tend to have other disorders like anxiety or depression in addition to their borderline personality disorder.

BPD symptoms are overwhelming, erratic, and difficult to control, so the majority turn to drugs and alcohol for relief. Rates of substance and alcohol use disorder are high among individuals with BPD. An estimated two-thirds of individuals with borderline also struggle with their drug and alcohol use.

Learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder, an intense, pervasive, complicated condition that some develop in response to experiencing a traumatic event.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating condition that results from unprocessed trauma. People who experience a traumatic event, from combat to assault, have a chance of developing PTSD.

Some people with PTSD turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with their symptoms. Using substances is not a helpful way of dealing with PTSD, though, especially over a long time. The condition is a result of unhealed trauma and drinking or using drugs doesn’t work to heal the impact of that event.

Dual diagnosis and mental health go hand-in-hand. It’s difficult to pursue a path of mental wellness while living with active co-occurring disorders. It is imperative for people with dual diagnosis to seek treatment so they can address both their mental illness and addiction effectively.

If you have dual diagnosis that does not mean you’ll never find a path to wellness, though. You can learn to prioritize and work on your mental health with proper intervention and treatment. It requires consistent and intensive work but you can escape the cycle of mental illness symptoms and addiction.

The key aspect of dual diagnosis is the presence of substance abuse. If someone has a mental illness that co-exists with any other condition aside from addiction, they do not have a dual diagnosis. Substance abuse makes the difference between someone with co-occurring disorders and someone who only has a mental illness.

There is no requirement on which type of substances a person must abuse. They may struggle with alcohol, opiates, heroin, cocaine, psychedelics, or any other kind of substance. As long as they have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, they qualify as having a dual diagnosis.

What qualifies as substance or alcohol use disorder? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders outlines the 11 common symptoms seen in those with a drug or alcohol use disorder:

If someone has a mental illness and their drinking or drug use fits some of the categories above, they likely have co-occurring disorders. What are some different examples of dual diagnosis and substance abuse?

Alcohol is a substance that many people turn to for relief. Plenty of people have a drink in the evening to relax after a long day. It’s widely accessible, available at almost every grocery store, convenience store, and restaurant you walk into.

Now imagine living with the stress you experience at the end of a long day constantly. Although the symptoms of mental illness differ depending on the specific condition, the resulting difficulties and stress they cause are essentially universal.

Sometimes these individuals use alcohol as a quick and easy way to cope with symptoms of mental illness. It helps them mask their struggles and escape from the pressure of their condition for a few minutes or hours at a time. And it’s easy for alcohol use to shift from casual drinking and into the disordered territory without realizing it right away.

It might seem like drinking is a great way to manage their symptoms or avoid thinking about their condition. All it does, though, is place a band-aid over the issue and potentially lead to a bigger problem.

If you have a mental illness, drinking alcohol is not a long-term strategy for managing your disorder. Once you’ve started, though, your condition becomes a multifaceted problem to work on.

Dual diagnosis and drug addiction is the second combination of conditions. Drug abuse is not as common a problem as alcohol because drugs aren’t as easily accessible. But the problems that result from the combination of drug addiction and mental illness are often worse than those with alcohol.

For example, benzodiazepine and opiate abuse are two common drugs used by people who experience extreme cases of anxiety or depression. These substances provide calming, euphoric effects that relieve symptoms of anxiety and soften the edges of depression.

At surface level, it’s understandable why some people turn to drugs for relief from their mental illness. Substances offer a quick fix for a problem that may have plagued them for years of their life. Once they discover what appears to be a reliable solution, they lean wholly into it.

Although substances provide short-term relief, using these types of drugs leads to detrimental long-term effects on mental health. When someone turns to drugs as a way to relieve their symptoms, they aren’t really learning how to work through or live with their illness.

The longer someone uses drugs to avoid their illness the more difficult it becomes to heal it. And once they find themselves addicted to their substance of choice, they have an even more difficult problem to address.

In the past, clinicians often preferred treating a patient’s mental health after they quit drinking or using drugs. They encouraged people to first confront their substance or alcohol use disorder then seek help for their mental disorder.

Looking at treatment this way is now outdated. Clinicians now have a greater understanding of the relationship between substance use disorders and mental health. They realize the importance of treating both conditions simultaneously in dual diagnosis patients.

Dual diagnosis requires an integrated intervention where the treatment plan addresses both the substance use disorder and the mental illness at the same time. It’s difficult to separate one condition from the other in patients with co-occurring disorders. Oftentimes the two overlap and symptoms from one lead to or worsen symptoms from the other.

If you struggle with co-occurring disorders, it’s important to find a facility that knows how to treat dual-diagnosis patients. Specialized dual diagnosis treatment facilities are best equipped to provide the most effective treatment modalities.

Effective dual diagnosis treatment does not look at treating one condition before the other. It integrates multiple approaches to provide well-rounded, informed care. Treating both conditions at the same time does not mean they can continue drinking and using drugs, though. Treatment methods won’t be effective if the client is still under the influence.

When working with dual diagnosis patients they need first separate from alcohol and all other substances. Clients need to have all substances cleared from their system first before therapy, counseling, and other dual diagnosis therapies will be most beneficial.

There are many types of dual diagnosis therapies used in a successful treatment plan. Addiction treatment, in general, does not benefit from a one-size-fits-all model. This is especially true for dual diagnosis treatment.

Various mental disorders can qualify a person as having a co-occurring disorder. Trying to use a single treatment approach for every person wouldn’t be effective. Treating depression is much different than treating post-traumatic stress disorder. The best facilities consider each person’s needs and build an individualized treatment plan specific to them.

The following are some of the types of dual diagnosis therapies.

Detoxification is the first step in dual diagnosis treatment. People must have all the substances cleared from their bodies and make it through the main withdrawal period. Though they can receive treatment if still drinking or using drugs, the effects of treatment will be short-lived. They need to go through detoxification first for successful treatment.

Inpatient rehab is one of the best options for individuals with a dual diagnosis. Residential programs offer more stability, structure, and support than outpatient programs. These aspects are important for people overcoming mental illness and substance use disorders. They also provide intensive 24-hour care which helps clients with co-occurring disorders. The additional supervision and care are good for those who need
additional help.

Therapy is the core of dual diagnosis treatment. Many kinds of therapies are useful when working with individuals who have co-occurring disorders. The specific type or types of therapy that will most help a client depends on each person. For example, a client with post-traumatic stress disorder and a substance use disorder will benefit most from EMDR therapy. Some examples of therapy modalities used for dual diagnosis clients include:

Medication is another important aspect of an effective dual diagnosis treatment plan. Using medications to balance brain chemistry or relieve symptoms is a vital part of treating mental illness. If clients are preoccupied with overwhelming symptoms of their mental illness, attempts at treatment will not be effective. The relief that medication provides allows clients to focus more fully on their program.

Sober living is an excellent follow-up option for clients who complete their inpatient treatment program. It offers a smoother transition back into everyday life from the higher level of care that inpatient rehab offers. Clients who live at a sober living can attend an outpatient program at the treatment facility and still return to a recovery-focused environment at night.

Both mental illness and substance use disorders are difficult to live with individually. Living with both is even more challenging. Trying to find recovery while living with a dual diagnosis is not easy but it’s possible. If you’re trying to stop using drugs and alcohol while managing a mental illness, dual diagnosis treatment is the best option for you.

Recovery probably sounds like a daunting and even impossible task if you’ve battled your dual diagnosis for a while. The truth is, many people overcome their substance use disorder, manage their mental illness, and go on to live a life of recovery. You can do the same with a comprehensive combination of effective treatment and ongoing support.

Not every treatment center has the capability or understanding to effectively treat individuals with co-occurring disorders. There are a few important things to keep in mind when looking for a facility that specializes in working with dual diagnosis patients.

The psychiatric understanding of co-occurring disorders has expanded over the past few decades. Before psychiatrists and psychologists understood the relationship between these conditions, many believed they couldn’t treat mental illness in someone with a substance use disorder. Now professionals understand this thinking is outdated and even dangerous.

Insisting someone quit drinking or using before receiving treatment is no longer an option. People with both conditions need and deserve effective care as much as any other person seeking treatment. You need to make sure you search for a qualified dual diagnosis facility before deciding which treatment program to attend.

The best treatment approach for dual diagnosis is called integrated intervention. An integrated intervention provides care for a person’s mental illness and substance use disorder simultaneously. There are specific ways of working with these individuals to manage symptoms of their mental illness as they separate from alcohol and drugs.

A dual diagnosis program is a treatment program that understands the nuances of treating both mental illness and substance or alcohol use disorder. Most facilities exist to treat one or the other but not all of them can treat people with both conditions. If you struggle with a dual diagnosis, a specialized facility will be the safest choice for you.

Are you ready to get help for dual diagnosis? You might feel overwhelmed when deciding which facility is right for you. Which type of treatment program is best? How do you know whether they provide comprehensive and effective care? Where do you even start looking when you’re trying to find a facility that can help?

You have a few options when it comes to treating dual diagnosis. There are different types of treatment programs available depending on your specific needs: detoxification, inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. Ongoing drug and alcohol counseling often follows a treatment program.

Medications are also an important part of treating people with a dual diagnosis. Various prescription medications or relieve the severity of their mental illness symptoms to make the treatment process more effective. Some individuals need to remain on their medication after treatment as part of their ongoing care.

Are you ready to seek treatment for dual diagnosis and looking for the best facility? Hawaii Island Recovery is the premier dual diagnosis treatment facility, located on the big island of Hawaii. We offer the best care for individuals struggling with co-occurring disorders from our facility settled in a tranquil, tropical environment.