Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders

A co-occurring disorder, often referred to as a dual diagnosis, is when an alcohol- or drug-related disorder occurs alongside a mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, thought disorders or personality disorders. Although these disorders are identified independently, they are somewhat integrated, with the mental health disorder often being the underlying cause of alcohol or drug addiction. For example, severe depression may lead a person to abuse alcohol and cocaine. Alternatively, prolonged drug or alcohol abuse may lead to mental health conditions such as psychosis or anxiety. According to Psychology Today, one disorder may be more severe than the other, although this may change over time, and eventually both can increase in severity.

There is no standard combination of addiction and co-occurring disorders. While some mental health disorders more commonly lead to the abuse of specific drugs, each person experiences unique symptoms of addiction and mental health issues. In treatment, those with co-occurring disorders must address both the substance abuse and underlying mental disorder in order to prevent chronic relapses.

To successfully identify co-occurring disorders, those in treatment should undergo a series of psychological and cognitive tests and clinical evaluations. At Alta Mira, comprehensive testing allows the staff neuropsychologist to develop a customized treatment plan that specifically works to address addiction as well as mental health disorders. Identifying co-occurring disorders is a crucial part of the overall treatment process, as it allows medical experts to pinpoint what treatment methods are necessary for a patient to prevent relapses in the long run.

As mental health disorders often catalyze or exacerbate issues of substance abuse, identifying positive treatment options is of utmost importance. Simply put, one is more likely to experience a relapse into addiction if the underlying cognitive and emotional issues are not addressed directly. For the best possible outcomes, cognitive and psychological testing and integrated treatment are necessities.

Integrating psychological, psychiatric and addiction treatment methods leads to a higher success rate in maintaining sobriety long term and avoiding relapses. By combining these treatment methods into a customized, comprehensive program for each patient, treatment can create better outcomes for overcoming negative side effects of mental health disorders, according to Dualdiagnosis.org. Addressing both the addiction and mental health disorder allows psychiatrists to create a medication plan that best works with both conditions. A proper diagnosis is also valuable for developing individualized therapy plans.

Furthermore, integrated treatment provides an opportunity for patients to utilize metacognitive strategies for overcoming their addictions. That is to say, a person has a chance to consider the exact role alcohol and drugs play in his or her life, and how it has affected them. Therefore, a person in rehab can become an active part of his or her personal recovery and gain awareness of the underlying symptoms of his or her addiction. Identifying relapse triggers and developing a continuing care plan for mental health disorders allows patients to then better maintain sobriety.