Substance Abuse Dual Diagnosis

by Emily Ness

Overview

A dual diagnosis means a person suffers from a co-occurring mental disorder along with alcohol or drug addiction. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 37 percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers are also diagnosed with at least one mental illness.
Types

The most common disorders co-diagnosed with substance addiction are depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders and anxiety disorders such as phobias, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Considerations

Depending on the individual, substance abuse can be the primary problem, with psychotic or depressive symptoms occurring due to excessive alcohol or drug intake. In other circumstances, substance abuse can occur because of a mental disorder, in order to "escape" or "avoid" the symptoms.
Treatments

People with a dual diagnosis need therapy programs that incorporate both mental health therapy and addiction therapy.
Limitations

Traditional addiction therapy is often confrontational and intense and only worsens the condition of someone who also has a mental illness. So ideal programs for dual diagnosis patients need to combine sensitivity with addiction treatment.
Recognition

Family and friends can recognize if a mentally ill loved one has a substance abuse problem if he suddenly starts having money problems, new friends start appearing, there is drug paraphernalia in the house, he spends long periods of time in the bathroom or he has dilated eyes.