Dual Diagnosis Meaning

“Dual diagnosis” describes a person experiencing mental illness alongside a substance use disorder. These mental illnesses may include depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia, or a variety of other mental conditions.

People’s struggles with mental health and substance use are often linked together, with one problem affecting the other in a destructive downward spiral.

Statistics on Dual Diagnosis

The prevalence and impact of dual diagnosis make a compelling case for targeted dual-diagnosis treatment. Recent research has shown that:

In addiction treatment, clinicians have realized that treating dual diagnosis clients is the norm, not the exception. Public awareness and the de-stigmatization of mental illness have increasingly shown that treating dual diagnosis symptoms is essential to addiction recovery and is a valuable tool for addiction treatment centers.

Managing Dual Diagnosis

Common Risk Factors

The most common risk factors for dual diagnosis are:

While none of these problems is guaranteed to result in a substance use disorder or mental illness, they can increase the likelihood of developing a problem.

Mental Health Problems and Substance Use: What Comes First?

Dual diagnosis disorders can happen in either direction. People can start misusing substances before ever noticing any mental health problems or develop a substance use disorder well after their mental health symptoms first appear.

Yet, for many people, mental health issues occur first. The symptoms of a mental illness often lead to substance use, as people commonly use drugs and alcohol to manage their mental health symptoms. This scenario is known as the “self-medication hypothesis.”

Pattern of Substance Use Disorders

According to this hypothesis, people develop substance use disorders due to using drugs to cope. The pattern is generally as follows:

This quickly turns into a destructive spiral. While people may get some short-term relief by using drugs or alcohol, the benefits quickly wear off, and people are left dealing with an addiction to substances.

A Deeper Look at Substance Use Disorders

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

In short, drugs such as methamphetamine are closely related to ADHD medications like Adderall or Vyvanse. In people with ADHD, these drugs have a calming effect — the opposite reaction to neurotypical people.

This opposite effect can result in people affected by ADHD finally feeling as though they can focus and be more productive, though the harms of using substances can quickly add up.

Bipolar Disorder

These intense emotional swings can be incredibly distressing, and many people with bipolar disorder will turn to substance use to cope. They either use substances to overcome long periods of depression, or they engage heavily in drug and alcohol use during manic phases.

By treating the root cause of their bipolar disorder, typically with mood-stabilizing medications, people can get off the emotional rollercoaster ride and feel profoundly relieved.

Borderline Personality Disorder

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are regularly diagnosed with a co-occurring substance use disorder. One of the key diagnostic criteria of BPD is impulsivity, and this impulsivity is thought to be the primary reason that dual diagnosis is so prevalent in this population.

Seeking treatment for BPD and substance use disorders typically involves entering a dual-diagnosis treatment program that offers services such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT was developed specifically to treat BPD and is rapidly becoming a mainstay in addiction treatment.

Depression

On the other hand, people with substance use disorders will often experience depressive symptoms due to their substance use. Depression is a common withdrawal symptom across multiple types of substance use disorders and can make it particularly difficult for people to recover.

For people who use substances to manage their depression, treating the root cause of their substance use is often identical to treating the depression itself.

There are several evidence-based treatment methods for helping people overcome the symptoms of depression, and any dual-diagnosis treatment center is equipped to handle these issues when you enter care.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders frequently occur together. The notion of using substances to overcome anxiety is even prevalent in popular culture: The idea that drinking is a cure for social anxiety promotes using alcohol to cope and likely plays a part in developing substance use disorders for people with anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

After a traumatic event, many people remain on high alert even though the danger has passed. When such symptoms persist for a long time, you’ve likely developed PTSD.

Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder

In addition, people with a substance use disorder may show significant personality changes to hide or obscure their drug use.

Signs and Symptoms of Mental Issues

The symptoms of mental illness have large variations but could include signs such as:

With dual diagnosis, it’s often difficult to differentiate whether a person is experiencing severe mental health symptoms or the short-term effects of drug use. Drugs like methamphetamine can mimic several effects of mental illness, such as anxiety, hallucinations, and sleep difficulties.

Determining whether these are drug effects or mental health problems requires that the person first achieve abstinence.

Detoxification

A medical team will observe you around the clock to ensure your safety and comfort, and support professionals will prepare you for the next phase of the recovery process.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

After detox, it’s highly recommended that people attend inpatient rehabilitation. These programs provide intensive therapies and close work with counseling professionals to teach people how to overcome their substance use problems. You’ll also meet regularly with psychiatric professionals who can help diagnose and treat mental illness.

At an inpatient center, you typically live on-site with peers trying to recover from substance use problems. This arrangement provides a solid and lasting support network, as people working toward the same goal are often the best suited to support each other in achieving it.

Treatments occur during the day, typically for several hours. Inpatient rehab is meant to be intensive — the early period of sobriety is where most people relapse, so providing a strong sense of structure and support can help them through.

Psychotherapy

Multiple studies show that these treatments help people stay abstinent, reduce mental health symptoms, and repair social connections damaged during a substance use disorder.

Medications

In addition to behavioral therapies, many people will benefit from targeted medications. Medication-assisted treatment can benefit both substance use problems and mental health issues and is vital in the recovery toolkit.

Medicating a mental illness can, in some cases, be enough to achieve total remission. For others, it’s a simple way of reducing symptoms significantly. In ideal circumstances, medications are paired with psychotherapeutic treatments, creating the best possible chances for recovery.

Supportive Housing

After completing residential treatment, many people can benefit from moving into sober, supportive housing. These “sober houses” can help people stay accountable by keeping them surrounded by other people in recovery. This is a valuable way to get long-term support for your recovery.

Self-Help and Support Groups

Self-help and support groups have long been the backbone of the recovery community. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), SMART Recovery, and Refuge Recovery are self-sustaining groups committed to helping people overcome substance use problems.

People attend these groups to share their common struggles, help each other, and build new friendships and connections in recovery.

There are even dual diagnosis AA meetings for people with co-occurring disorders.

Why Do People Self-Medicate?

There are several reasons why people self-medicate. The symptoms of a mental health disorder are often too much for people to bear without help, whether they know they have a disorder or not. Substance use is an easy short-term solution but leads to lasting problems.

Why Is It Dangerous?

The danger of self-medication is twofold. First, using substances to cope can hinder your ability to develop healthier strategies, holding you back from reaching your full potential. Second, using drugs to self-medicate can have unwanted side effects and consequences.

These unintended effects, including developing a substance use disorder, can quickly spiral out of control. You can avoid catastrophic events like accidental overdose by seeking professional help for your mental illness instead of figuring it out on your own.

Consequences of Self Medication

Why Should You Seek Professional Treatment?

Working with a psychiatrist and clinical team to treat your dual diagnosis symptoms provides expert medical advice and a supportive team that wants to see you succeed. 

With psychiatric medicine, you can appropriately treat mental health problems with targeted drugs and medications obtained legally, free from contaminants, and have fewer side effects.

Professional addiction treatment can help you overcome your substance use disorder and finally achieve recovery.

Our Dual Diagnosis Services

Our program has several services designed specifically for people with dual diagnosis symptoms. This includes dual diagnosis group therapy, psychiatric staff who work directly alongside substance use counselors, and specialized treatment protocols for specific mental illnesses.

Our Therapies

Therapies offered at our facility include:

In addition to these, we offer many more therapies to suit your individual needs.

Contact Us Today

If you’re ready to treat both your substance use problems and your mental illness, contact the team at Anew Treatment center today.

Dual diagnosis recovery is attainable with the help of a trained team of mental health and substance use professionals. 

You don’t have to do this alone. When you’re ready to seek care, the team at Anew will be here to help.

Resources