Setting Expectations With Co-occurring Disorders in Treatment

Co-occurring disorders are doubly challenging compared to single disorders. Individuals who are struggling with substance use disorders are susceptible to developing other forms of psychiatric disorders. Patients with co-existing disorders usually require longer periods of treatment than people with single disorders.

Find out what a co-occurring disorder is. Learn what its common symptoms are. Discover how addiction treatment at the right rehab center can help patients recover from dual diagnoses.

What Are Co-Occurring Disorders

A co-occurring disorder describes a mental health issue and substance use disorder that coexist with each other. It is also popularly known as dual diagnosis or dual disorder. It typically describes a fusion of substance use and mental disorders. However, it may also be used as a term for other co-existing disorders like mental illness and intellectual disability.

These are some of the common mental disorders that co-occur with substance use disorder, based on youth.gov and Psychology Today resources:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Personality Disorder
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Conduct disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Here are the substances that patients with mental disorders often misuse:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Stimulants
• Opioids
• Hallucinogens
• Marijuana
• Prescription drugs

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that there were 9.2 million adults in the U.S. with co-occurring disorders as of 2018. Coexisting substance use disorders and mental disorders usually vary in terms of effects, extremity, and treatment time.

What Are the Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis

The exact symptoms of a co-occurring disorder are based on the specific combination of substance use disorder and mental health issues that a patient has. In general, individuals with dual diagnosis are vulnerable to experiencing the following additional issues:

• Symptomatic relapses
• Hospitalizations
• Social isolation
• Family conflicts
• Serious medical illness
• Homelessness
• Incarceration
• Financial problems

Once a person stops or lowers the intake of a substance, the patient may encounter withdrawal symptoms that are related to the type of substance he or she is dependent on.

How To Treat Co-occurring Disorders

A holistic treatment approach is recommended for patients with dual diagnoses. This integrated form of treatment involves the coordination of substance abuse and mental health interventions, instead of treating the individual disorders separately.

Holistic treatments usually include a mix of the following:

• Behavioral Treatment: It can boost the coping skills and minimize the maladaptive behaviors of a patient. Some examples of behavioral treatment are cognitive-behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy.
• Medication: Licensed healthcare professionals may prescribe certain medications to patients, depending on their substance disorders and mental health issues.

The holistic treatment should be customized to the particular needs of each patient.

Seek Holistic Addiction Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders at a Rehab Center in Los Angeles

Co-occurring disorders affect all the aspects of the life of a patient. That’s why holistic treatment at the right facility is necessary to effectively treat dual diagnosis.

Innovate Recovery & Rehab Center in Tarzana, Los Angeles is the ideal choice for patients who wish to achieve successful recovery and continued sobriety. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us in case you or your loved one need our integrated, comprehensive addiction treatment.

Contact us to discover how our expert team can provide you with the high-quality medical care and supportive environment you need to overcome co-occurring disorders.