Are you living with Dual Diagnosis?

Mental health disorders and substance use disorders often coexist. More than half of those individuals who suffer substance abuse are likely to have at least one significant mental health condition. The co-existing disorders are known as “dual diagnosis.”

8 common mental disorders that exist with substance abuse disorders among dual diagnosis patients are –

* Major Depression
* PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Bipolar Disorder
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
* Borderline Personality Disorder
* Anxiety Disorder
* Eating Disorders
* Schizophrenia

It is important to establish an accurate diagnosis for dual diagnosis patients. The relationship between substance abuse and mental health disorders can vary in different cases.

1. Substance abuse may perpetuate, induce, worsen or alleviate psychiatric symptoms in these patients.
2. Substance abuse may cause psychiatric symptoms.
3. Acute and chronic substance use can trigger the re-emergence or worsen the severity of psychiatric disorders.

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis patients experience more severe and chronic medical, social and emotional dysfunction.

Since dual diagnosis patients have two disorders, they run the risk of either one worsening. Moreover, addiction relapse may cause psychiatric decompensation and worsening psychiatric problems may lead to addiction relapse. This is why relapse prevention is an integral part of dual diagnosis treatment.

Patients with dual disorders may face more crises than other patients and require longer and gradual treatment.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

The complexity of dual diagnosis requires require an individualized treatment plan to treat patients with dual diagnosis. This is followed by a comprehensive, multidisciplinary care plan that will include treatment for both disorders.

A comprehensive treatment plan will have treatment from both addiction and mental health professionals. This has been found to be the most effective way to treat dual diagnosis patients.

Coping with a Dual Diagnosis

A few things you can do to ensure complete recovery from dual diagnosis –

* Follow your medication and psychotherapy regimen as recommended by your doctors or psychiatrist.
* Learn stress management techniques to prevent any stress, anxiety or triggers that may have been causing or sustaining the disorders.
* Observe any mood or craving patterns.
* Exercise and eat well.
* Attend both individual and group therapy.
* Reach out and ask for help if you feel you are unable to handle the pressures of a dual diagnosis. Good dual diagnosis treatment centers, such as pacific Bay Recovery in San Diego, have both inpatient and outpatient programs that can help patients find appropriate dual diagnosis treatment.

Pacific Bay Recovery offers various options for dual diagnosis treatment, such as inpatient and intensive outpatient programs. To learn more about dual diagnosis treatment in San Diego, call the top drug detox and addiction treatment centers in San Diego, Pacific Bay Recovery at 858-263-9700 Today.

Pacific Bay Recovery
1501 5th Avenue, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92101
(858) 263-9700

This release was published on openPR.