Dual diagnosis is defined as having two conditions as once – for example, having a mental illness and a substance use disorder is considered dual diagnosis, also known as comorbidity or a co-occurring disorder. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a 2014 National Survey on Drug Use estimated that 7.9 million people were experiencing dual diagnoses – and it’s likely that the numbers have only risen since then. Having a dual diagnosis can be difficult to live with, especially if a person is not fully aware that they have one. Each condition can certainly exacerbate symptoms of the other, which can sometimes even appear to be a different disorder, making misdiagnosis an unfortunate yet plausible situation.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder, it’s important that you obtain treatment from a reputable treatment center that specializes in dual diagnoses. Not doing so could mean that only one of your conditions are treated for at a time, which could disregard some of your symptoms that are becoming more severe the longer they go untreated for. Most likely, your treatment center will guide you into an integrated intervention, which considers all of your conditions to provide you with the best care possible. Some of the most common co-occurring disorders include:
- Bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder (AUD) or heroin addiction
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and AUD
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and AUD
- Anxiety and AUD or benzodiazepine addiction
Integrated interventions typically include detoxification, inpatient rehabilitation, psychotherapy, medication, support groups, and more. Most often, people with dual diagnoses experience a more severe development of disorders because of their impact on one another. For this, special attention, care, and monitoring is needed to ensure an individual receives the most appropriate and effective form of treatment possible.
If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about potential treatment options for those with dual diagnoses. Your journey to recovery can start today.
Stop the cycle of merry-go-round treatment and find the solution you’re looking for in trauma treatment. Through effective residential treatment, Khiron House helps you find the path you need toward health and wellness in recovery. For information, call us today. UK: 020 3811 2575 (24 hours). USA: (866) 801 6184 (24 hours).