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Dual Disorder Services

What is dual diagnosis?

How common is dual diagnosis?

What kind of menal or emotional problems are seen in people with dual diagnosis?

Psychiatric Disorders

Increased Risk of Substance Abuse

Which develops first-Substance abuse or the emoional problem?

How can a physician tell whether the person’s primary problem is substance abuse or an emotional disorder?

If a person does have both an alcohol/drug problem and an emotional problem, which should be treated first?

What is next after detoxification?

What is the role of the patient’s family in treatment?

How can family and friends help with recovery from the substance abuse?

How can family and friends help with recovery from a psychiatric condition?

If someone I know appears to have a substance abuse problem and the sympoms of a psychiatric disorder, how can I help?

There is Hope

What is Dual Diagnosis?
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How Common Is Dual Diagnosis?
Thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and fifty-three percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
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What Kind of Mental or Emotional Problems are Seen in People with Dual Diagnosis?
The following psychiatric problems are common to occur in dual diagnosis – i.e., in tandem with alcohol or drug dependency.
• Depressive disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder.
• Other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and personality disorders.
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Psychiatric Disorder Increased Risk For Substance Abuse
Antisocial personality disorder 15.5%
Manic episode 14.5%
Schizophrenia 10.1%
Panic disorder 4.3%
Major depressive episode 4.1%
Obsessive-compulsive disorder 3.4%
Phobias 2.4%

Thus, someone suffering from schizophrenia is at a 10.1 percent higher-than-average risk of being an alcoholic or drug abuser. Someone who is having an episode of major depression is at a 4.1 percent higher-than-average risk of being an alcohol or drug abuser…and so on.
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Which Develops First – Substance Abuse or the Emotional Problem?
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If a Person Does Have Both an Alcohol/Drug Problem and an Emotional Problem, Which Should Be Treated First?
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What Is Next After Detoxification?
Once detoxification is completed, it’s time for dual treatment; rehabilitation for the alcohol or drug problem and treatment for the psychiatric problem.
Rehabilitation for a substance abuse problem usually involves individual and group psychotherapy, education about alcohol and drugs, exercise, proper nutrition, and participation in a 12-step recovery program such as Alcoholics Anonymous. The idea is not just to stay off booze and drugs, but to learn to enjoy life without these “crutches.”
Treatment for a psychiatric problem depends upon the diagnosis. For most disorders, individual and group therapy as well as medications are recommended. Expressive therapies and education about the particular psychiatric condition are often useful adjuncts. A support group of other people who are recovering from the same condition may also prove highly beneficial. Adjunct treatment, such as occupational or expressive therapy, can help individuals better understand and communicate their feelings or develop better problem-solving or decision-making skills.
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What is the Role of the Patient’s Family in Treatment?
With both rehabilitation for substance abuse and treatment for a psychiatric problem, education, counseling sessions, and support groups for the patient’s family are important aspects of overall care. The greater the family’s understanding of the problems, the higher the chances the patient will have a lasting recovery.
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How Can Family and Friends Help with Recovery from the Substance Abuse?
They need to learn to stop enabling. Enabling is acting in ways that essentially help or encourage the person to maintain their habit of drinking or getting high. For instance, a woman whose husband routinely drinks too much, might call in sick for him when he is too drunk to go to work. That’s enabling. Likewise, family members or friends might give an addict money which is used to buy drugs, because they’re either sorry for him or afraid of him. That’s enabling also.
When family and friends participate in the recovery program, they learn how to stop enabling. If they act on what they’ve learned, the recovering substance abuser is much less likely to relapse into drinking or taking drugs.
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How Can Family and Friends Help with Recovery from a Psychiatric Condition?
They should be calm and understanding, rather than frightened or critical. They should be warm and open, rather than cool or cautious. Although it is fine to ask the person matter-of-factly about the psychiatric treatment, that shouldn’t be the only focus of conversation.
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If Someone I Know Appears To Have A Substance Abuse Problem And The Symptoms Of A Psychiatric Disorder, How Can I Help?
Encourage the person to acknowledge the problems and seek help for themselves. Suggest a professional evaluation with a licensed physician, preferably at a medical center that’s equipped to treat addiction problems and psychiatric conditions. If the person is reluctant, do the legwork yourself – find the facility, make the appointment, offer to go with the person. A little encouragement may be all it takes. If you talk to the physician first, be honest and candid about the troubling behavior. Your input may give the doctor valuable diagnostic clues.
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There Is Hope
As a relative or friend, you can play an important role in encouraging a person to seek professional diagnosis and treatment. By learning about dual diagnosis, you can help this person find and stick with an effective recovery program.
The more you know about dual diagnosis, the more you will see how substance abuse can go hand-in-hand with another psychiatric condition. As with any illness, a person with dual diagnosis can improve once proper care is given. By seeking out information, you can learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of dual diagnosis – and help someone live a healthier or more fulfilling life.
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