Drug addicts who also have a mental illness are given a dual diagnosis, which typically requires additional treatment when patients enter rehabilitation. Both diseases must be treated to sustain a successful recovery. Intense therapy and medication are usually combined to treat people with a dual diagnosis. The Foundations Association estimates that co-occurring disorders affect almost 14 million Americans annually.
Names
Dual diagnosis is also referred to as "co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders."
Rehab
Most drug rehabilitation centers offer dual diagnosis treatment. Some facilities focus exclusively on patients that have a dual diagnosis.
Order
Sometimes people with mental disorders self-medicate and build an addiction. Others develop mental disorders after long-term drug abuse.
Detox
Patients must first undergo a detoxification process from the drugs they are addicted to before they can be treated for the mental illness.
Common Illnesses
Common mental illnesses associated with dual diagnosis include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anti-social personality disorder.
Family
Look for family counseling when considering treatment centers. Dually diagnosed patients have special needs following discharge that the family should be aware of.
Tags: dual diagnosis, mental disorders, mental illness, people with, with dual