Common underlying factors include genetics, trauma, and stress—known as common risk factors—that can exacerbate both mental health issues and substance reliance. Yes, individuals with dual diagnosis face increased risks, including an elevated risk of suicide and self-harm. The combination of mental health disorders and substance abuse significantly amplifies these risks. Substance abuse can impair judgment and impulse control, making individuals more vulnerable to suicidal ideation or engaging in self-harming behaviors. Secondly, substance abuse often leads to poor judgment and impaired decision-making, which can exacerbate existing mental health conditions or trigger new episodes. The unaddressed underlying issues may perpetuate a cycle of substance abuse as individuals struggle to manage their symptoms effectively.

Therapy

Beyond psychological testing, physical examinations and medical tests may be performed to rule out other health issues or substance-related physical effects. Family history, social supports, and trauma history are also important considerations. Once screening suggests the possibility of co-occurring conditions, clinicians perform detailed psychological evaluations. These tools help gather comprehensive information about symptoms, substance use patterns, treatment history, and social environment. Ask the provider if they report 30-, 90-, and 180-day abstinence, and if so, how they Twelve-step program track and report these periods. Additionally, determine which types of mental health symptom scales are used to assess whether improvements are occurring.

What is the best treatment for dual diagnosis?

Prevalent symptoms include emotional dysregulation, self-harm and polysubstance abuse. Typically, dual diagnosis treatment involving dialectical behavior therapy skills modules, integrated with relapse prevention, is successful. Finding a dual diagnosis treatment center that provides evidence-based treatment and fully integrated care is important to help you succeed in your recovery. Our rehab center database can help you find treatment centers across the U.S. Additionally, you can contact your primary https://centroculturalhaciendaelcedro.com/2025/05/27/addiction-recovery-aftercare-programs-activities-2/ care doctor, a mental health professional, or your insurance provider for referrals or suggestions. While substance abuse problems and mental health issues don’t get better when they’re ignored—in fact, they are likely to get much worse—it’s important to know that you don’t have to feel this way.

Responsibilities and skills required for dual diagnosis workers

This complexity necessitates a more intricate and nuanced approach to diagnosis and treatment than dealing with either condition in isolation. Help and support are available, and with the proper care and treatment, you can overcome dual diagnosis your struggles and live the kind of life you could have only imagined at the beginning. However, the condition remains underdiagnosed and, therefore, undertreated, highlighting the urgent need for more awareness and support around dual diagnosis and its various effects. Dual diagnosis detox programs can help with withdrawal symptoms—for many, detoxification, or detox for short, is the first stage of recovery. Carlos Protzel, Psy.D., LCSW, is a PSYPACT-certified psychologist with 25+ years of experience.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

But arbitrarily stopping medication or treatment is a common reason for relapse in people with co-occurring disorders. Always talk with your doctor before making any changes to your medication or treatment routine. Many people turn to alcohol or drugs to cover up painful memories and emotions such as loneliness, depression, or anxiety.

Also, specific therapies have shown better outcomes for certain dual diagnosis treatments. Dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders, refers to the presence of both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder. These conditions often develop together and can significantly impact one another, intensifying symptoms and complicating treatment.

• Keep in mind this self-assessment is not medical advice and should not be considered as any kind of diagnosis – only your own medical professional can give you that.
• In the case of a dual diagnosis, an inpatient rehab center’s structured and safe environment can be extremely beneficial.
• In addition to mental health challenges, individuals with dual diagnoses may struggle with addiction to substances like alcohol or drugs.

Integrated care is often the best treatment approach as it may reduce the severity of mental health symptoms and the rate of relapse. While those with alcohol use disorder may turn to alcohol to cope, alcohol is a depressant and can worsen depressive symptoms. It also affects neurotransmitters in the brain and reduces the effectiveness of medications for depression. Understanding how medications are used to treat these conditions can be challenging. For more information and advice on what medications may suit you, seek help from your healthcare provider.

For some, dual diagnosis treatment may take several months, while others may need several years to recover fully. When selecting a dual diagnosis treatment center, there are specific characteristics to consider to ensure you receive the best possible care. Holistic treatments are those that treat the mind, body, and spirit as a whole, with the understanding that any issue left untreated could be a trigger for relapse. Common effective treatments include yoga, mindfulness, and art therapy, which can reduce cortisol levels and cravings. Other holistic therapies may include music, animal support, acupuncture, massage, tai chi, and journaling. Since the medicines are overseen by medical providers and dispensed by pharmacies, there is a decreased chance for misuse or abuse.