In many cases, but not all, addiction and mental health disorders co-occur, creating a cycle that doesn’t end without professional help. It is common for people to use substances to cope with mental health disorders, while the substance use itself worsens mental health and creates new symptoms.
This is why treating only the addiction or only the mental health condition often leads to relapse. Both need to be addressed in order for treatment to work. With dual diagnosis treatment, professionals are able to address both conditions simultaneously, greatly increasing success rates.
What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
A dual diagnosis refers to co-occurring disorders that are directly linked to one another, often used for diagnosing co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
A dual diagnosis treatment program takes an integrated approach and addresses both mental health and substance use simultaneously. This helps patients understand why their conditions are linked and provides them with the tools to address each issue at the same time and prevent relapse.
Mental health and substance use disorders are often closely linked, as substances are often used as a coping mechanism for something deeper. If the root cause is not treated, the risk of relapse increases. Dual diagnosis treatment greatly minimizes these risks.
Common Mental Health Disorders That Occur With Addiction
It is highly common for a person with a substance use disorder to also develop co-occurring mental health disorders. While everyone is different, there are a few common mental health challenges that arise with the use of substances.
Depression and Alcohol or Drug Use
Someone with depression might use alcohol for self-medication. This can quickly become a dangerous cycle.
On the other hand, substance use commonly causes mood instability. Depression is a frequent side effect that only continues to feed the cycle.
Anxiety Disorders and Substance Use
According to a common statistic, people with anxiety disorders are two to three times more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Often, substances are used to self-medicate for anxiety, only making symptoms worse as dependence develops.
Common co-occurring anxiety disorders can include:
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety
- Generalized anxiety
PTSD and Trauma-Related Disorders
Trauma is one of the main drivers of addiction. According to the National Center for PTSD, nearly 50% of individuals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develop a substance use disorder.
This is no surprise, as substances are commonly used to numb emotions that arise from PTSD symptoms or flashbacks.
Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
Mania, a common symptom of bipolar disorder, often leads to poor impulse control. Paired with intense emotions during an episode, individuals with bipolar disorder are more likely to abuse substances.
Because of this disorder’s unpredictable mood cycling, relapse risks rise. Treating both conditions simultaneously is the best way to ensure recovery and prevent relapse.
Why Treating Addiction Alone Often Fails
Some treatment centers ignore mental health issues and only focus on treating the addiction alone. This method is highly unsuccessful when co-occurring conditions are present, leading to higher relapse rates.
Treating addiction alone fails because:
- Mental health symptoms resurface after detox
- Triggers remain untreated
- Increased relapse risk without psychological care
- The cycle of self-medication continues
Too often, mental health and addiction are treated separately. The only way to successfully break the cycle is to address both disorders simultaneously.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Works
Dual Diagnosis works by treating a health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time, through integrated care and evidence-based therapies.
Comprehensive Assessment and Diagnosis
During the initial evaluation, a comprehensive assessment will be performed. This helps narrow down the diagnosis and plays a major role in forming a personalized care plan.
This assessment may include:
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Substance use history
- Medical evaluation
Integrated Treatment Planning
After the assessment and diagnosis, an individualized treatment plan is created. Through a comprehensive approach, this personalized plan ensures that both conditions are treated simultaneously.
Addiction specialists and mental health professionals will work together to provide coordinated care that targets both conditions and ensures that the root cause is addressed. This greatly increases success rates and prevents relapse.
Evidence-Based Therapies Used in Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Evidence-based therapies are a major part of dual diagnosis treatment. Many programs utilize both group and individual therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapy that works to give patients the tools to redirect negative thoughts and focus on the present. This therapy relies heavily on the patient’s collaboration with the therapist and willingness to complete practical exercises.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Crucial for recovery, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) teaches patients to regulate emotions and build their distress tolerance. This therapy aids in real-time crisis management and encourages healthy coping mechanisms, rather than repeating the cycle of substance use.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
As trauma leaves a lasting impact on someone’s life, it is crucial to address it properly during dual diagnosis treatment. This therapy seeks to understand the individual’s trauma and shifts the focus toward safety, trust, and empowerment.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
This collaborative, communication-style therapy seeks to strengthen an individual’s motivation, driving change from within rather than through confrontation or outside advice.
This powerful therapy allows an individual to change behaviors on their own and is a powerful tool for relapse prevention and crisis management.
Medication Management in Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Sometimes, individuals will require medication during dual diagnosis treatment. These medications are carefully assessed and selected in order to manage mental health and withdrawal symptoms.
When an individual needs medication-assisted treatment (MAT), FDA-approved medications are combined with counseling and behavioral health therapies to stabilize brain chemistry and reduce cravings.
Common medications used in MAT include:
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone)
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
The Role of Medical Detox in Dual Diagnosis Care
Before starting a dual diagnosis program, individuals must detox from any current substance they are using. If they don’t, withdrawal symptoms can worsen mental health disorders and conflict with the treatment plan.
Stabilization before therapy is the crucial first step in the recovery process and allows individuals to safely detox in a clinical environment, significantly reducing the risk of severe or fatal complications. Once an individual has safely detoxed, they are ready to begin dual diagnosis treatment.
Levels of Care for Dual Diagnosis Treatment
There are several different levels of care in dual diagnosis treatment. Each plays a vital role in the recovery process and provides a safe environment for individuals to heal.
Medical Detox
This is the first step in the recovery process and is necessary in order to continue treatment. During medical detox, patients are monitored in a clinical environment as they manage withdrawal symptoms. If not done in a professional environment, withdrawal symptoms can lead to severe and even fatal complications.
Residential Treatment
After medical detox, patients move into residential treatment. This is where patients receive personalized therapies that address both their addiction and their mental health disorders. Usually lasting for 30, 60, or 90 days, patients live on-site and follow a structured weekly schedule.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
At this stage, patients are not required to live on-site, but must attend the treatment facility consistently in order to receive ongoing therapy and addiction treatment. Treatment at this stage is still intensive, but patients are considered stable enough to live at home while continuing treatment.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
IOP programs usually offer treatment several days a week and continue to build on recovery tools that patients developed during residential treatment. This level of dual diagnosis treatment focuses on healthy coping skills and symptom management.
Why Integrated Care Improves Recovery Outcomes
When treatment centers use integrated care, recovery outcomes improve drastically. This is due to several benefits that are only gained when both mental health conditions and substance use disorders are treated simultaneously.
Dual diagnosis treatment benefits include:
- Better relapse prevention
- Improved emotional regulation
- Higher treatment retention rates
- Long-term stability
Signs Someone May Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment
When someone has mental health disorders that co-occur with their substance use, dual diagnosis treatment is necessary for recovery. This integrated approach allows both conditions to be treated simultaneously.
But co-occurring disorders are not always easy to spot. Here are a few signs that someone may need dual diagnosis treatment:
- Substance use that is linked to emotional distress
- Drinking or drug use to cope with anxiety or trauma
- Mood swings or depression alongside addiction
- Relapse despite previous treatment
Co-occurring disorders create a never-ending cycle that only leads to dangerous outcomes. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both issues at the same time and provides personalized care.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Supports Long-Term Recovery
Dual diagnosis treatment options support lifelong recovery through the building of healthy coping skills and utilization of evidence-based therapies. Through this personalized treatment, the root cause of addiction is located and addressed.
This treatment option consistently builds sustainable recovery strategies and greatly reduces the risk of relapse. When both conditions are treated simultaneously, the dangerous cycle of addiction is broken. Patients are taught how to manage emotions and use healthy coping mechanisms, leading to greater recovery success.
How Into Action Recovery Treats Dual Diagnosis
At Into Action Recovery, our dual diagnosis program combines decades of mental health treatment experience with our on-site medical director’s leadership. Through an integrated approach, we treat co-occurring disorders simultaneously and create personalized treatment plans that break the cycle of addiction.
If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction and co-occurring disorders, take action today and break the dangerous cycle. Contact us today and take the first step towards recovery.
