Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

When someone is presented with a dual diagnosis, that does not mean that one is the cause for the other, even if one appears before the other.

There are three possible reasons for mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders to occur together.

Common Risk Factors for Dual Diagnosis

The first reason a person might receive a dual diagnosis is because of the presence of common risk factors. These can include:

Genetics: Both SUDs and mental health disorders run in families and are thought to be connected to certain genetic predispositions.
Stress: Stress is related to challenges in a person’s life. While no one can avoid all stress, particularly challenging situations or events can cause a person to develop an SUD or mental disorder.
Trauma: Trauma happens when an event occurs that is overwhelming. Traumatic events can occur in childhood or adulthood and might include abuse or neglect, the sudden loss of a loved one or job, or accidents.

Mental Health Disorders

Those who have mental health disorders are more likely to develop substance abuse disorders, especially if a person with a mental health disorder attempts to self-medicate. According to a 2022 study, 25.8% of those with a mental disorder are also diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder.[1]

Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety disrupt neurotransmitters in the brain, one of which is dopamine. Because dopamine is the reward or pleasure chemical in the brain, when it is dysregulated, it can increase the likelihood that a person will become addicted to substances.

Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders may include:

• Confusion
• Mood changes
• Avoiding social activities
• Inability to participate in daily activities

Substance Abuse Disorders

Those who have substance abuse disorders are more likely to also have mental health abuse disorders in part because substance abuse can change the chemicals and structure of a person’s brain. According to a 2022 study, 36.5% of those with a mental disorder are also diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder.[2]

Symptoms of Substance Abuse Disorders can include:

• Changes in behavior
• Avoiding friends and family
• Engaging in risky behaviors
• Experiencing withdrawal when trying to quit using the substance

Experiencing co-occurring disorders can negatively affect all areas of a person’s life. Both can damage psychological and physical wellness, and each disorder can make the other worse. Relationships might suffer, and it can be difficult to engage in daily activities like work or school because of either disorder. Their co-occurrence can make it feel impossible to get out of the cycle of each disorder exacerbating the other.

Getting diagnosed with a dual diagnosis can actually be helpful; if only one disorder is diagnosed, the individual can suffer adverse effects because they are not getting adequate treatment. For example, if a mental health disorder is diagnosed and the person is prescribed medication, but the provider doesn’t realize substance abuse is an issue, this could put the client in danger.

Having both kinds of disorders diagnosed will allow the client and their provider to make a plan for treating each one.

Because dual diagnosis is a combination of disorders, it can be difficult to diagnose. A health care provider might test for either a substance abuse disorder or a mental health disorder without realizing that the other is in play. Once both are diagnosed, each one can be treated.

Diagnosis will usually include meeting with a health care provider, whether that be a doctor,

psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist. If a person is aware that one disorder exists, they should be sure to share that information with the health care provider, even if the provider does not directly ask about a separate diagnosis.

Treatment for dual diagnosis will include separate treatment for both substance abuse disorder and the mental health disorder. The first step will be to stop using the addictive substance and to detox from it.

After that, you might engage in any of the following treatment steps.

Inpatient Care: Inpatient care might be needed for detox and to provide intensive support during the first phases of your treatment.
Therapy: There are many kinds of therapy, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, that can be used to treat both mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders.
Medication: Sometimes, medication is warranted to help people wean off the substance and to help control the symptoms of mental health disorders. This is especially helpful if the mental health disorder is due to chemical imbalances in the brain.
Ongoing Support: Most people in recovery need ongoing support, even after they have quit using the addictive substance and are in therapy for their mental health disorder. This kind of support may take the form of a mentor or support group.