The combination of alcohol addiction with a mental illness is common.
Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis isthe diagnosis of both mental health issue and alcoholism. Mental illness and substance abuse are considered “dual diagnoses” when they occur simultaneously. A depressed individual is likely to use alcohol more to self-medicate symptoms, including irritability, insomnia, and feelings of inadequacy. According to studies, excessive alcohol consumption does not create behavioral issues, but it may exacerbate the symptoms of a mental illness.
One-third of those who suffer from alcoholism also have a mental illness. Co-occurring disorders are not usually a result of a person’s drinking or mental health issues. However, this practice may significantly increase the risk of a subsequent dual diagnosis. When you have a drinking problem as well as a mental health problem, you are said to have a dual diagnosis. Alcohol has a negative influence on one’s mental health. Untreated mental illness and alcoholism may have devastating consequences for both the sufferer and their loved ones.
The best way to deal with a dual diagnosis is in a medically supervised rehab setting. Co-occurring disorder treatment centers provide a wide range of treatments to heal the whole person rather than simply treating one ailment at a time.
Diagnosis of Co-Occurring Disorders
The DSM-IV is a diagnostic and statistical manual for diagnosing illnesses of mental health and substance abuse. Using typical signs, clinicians may use this guideline to diagnose mental health or substance abuse issues. The manual formerly lacked descriptions of co-occurring conditions, even though mental health and drug abuse issues have separate categories.
Co-occurring substance use and mental health issues were better described in the DSM-5, the fifth edition of the manual, which was revised to depict these issues properly. Psychologically, it has been shown that people with co-occurring disorders typically exhibit the same signs and symptoms as those with mental health issues who do not have substance abuse problems. Mental illness is not always accompanied by worsening drug use disorders, which is taken into account in this study as well.
Treatment Options for Dual Diagnosis Patients with Co-Occurring Disorders
In order to effectively treat someone with two or more co-occurring disorders, both must be addressed. It is possible to treat both the patient’s substance abuse and mental health issues at the same time with the help of dual diagnosis treatment.
Integrated treatment programs for co-occurring disorders allow treating drug abuse and mental health problems at the same time.Medicines to address an individual’s mental health issues may be incorporated into their treatment regimen after overcoming their drug addiction. It is common to wait till a patient has stopped using drugs before commencing medication for mental health issues due to the dangers of using such medicines in conjunction with commonly used medications.
Taylor Recovery Centerin Houston Will Help You Get Back On Track
Long-term rehabilitation begins with the choice to seek therapy. That’s why our therapy experts at Taylor Recovery Centerare glad to discuss your options with you. Get in touch with our admittance team today to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment regimen.
