Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers California

From dual diagnosis to co-occurring disorders

The term dual diagnosis has been changed to co-occurring disorders, since often an individual may have multiple substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. Individuals with bipolar disorder may have an underlying substance abuse disorder that is undiagnosed and causing an increase in bipolar disorder symptoms. On the other hand, it is possible for an individual to have a substance use disorder that is masking a mental health disorder. Therefore, it is important for each disorder to be diagnosed and treated, so that the individual will heal appropriately.

Treatment is aimed at a multidisciplinary approach including medication assisted detox for a substance use disorder as well as psychotherapy approaches for the mental health disorder. A patient must detox from the addicted substance before the mental health disorder can be addressed, making this a very complex treatment process. Once the drug of abuse is cleared from the body, a proper assessment can be made to determine the severity of the mental health disorder. Depending on the severity, treatment can entail residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient care or general outpatient treatment.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “About a third of all people experiencing mental illnesses and about half of people living with severe mental illnesses also experience substance abuse. These statistics are mirrored in the substance abuse community, where about a third of all alcohol abusers and more than half of all drug abusers report experiencing a mental illness.”

There is no need to allow the cycle to continue. Treatment of co-occurring conditions at Sovereign Health can help patients transition from dual diagnosis rehabilitation into recovery. The first step to dual diagnosis recovery begins with seeking proper treatment.

More than two conditions can be present

Co-occurring disorders can involve more than two conditions that need to be treated together. If the patient is only treated for one condition, he or she can still relapse from the untreated disorder. Symptoms of dual diagnosis include continually relapsing after completing a rehab program and having a family history of mental illness or substance addiction. Symptoms of co-occurring conditions may be difficult to recognize immediately, and that is why dual diagnosis treatment programs need to screen for any conditions upon admission to the facility.