What is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder, occurs when a person is simultaneously experiencing a mental health disorder and the disease of addiction. Examples of common co-occurring disorders include the following:
- Antisocial personality disorder and alcohol use disorder
- Depression and cocaine addiction
- Panic disorder and benzodiazepine addiction
- Schizophrenia and poly-substance use disorder (e.g. being addicted to several mind-altering substances at the same time)
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports that nearly half of the American population (45% to be exact) have a dual diagnosis. This statistic is not startling to those who are aware of the growing mental health and substance abuse crisis in the country, as more than 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and about 1 in 4 adults have a mental health disorder.
It can be difficult to decipher the difference between a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, especially because the disease of addiction can cause people to develop erratic, unexplained behaviors. However, knowing the symptoms of dual diagnosis can take the grunt work out of deciphering what is going on.
Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis
The specific symptoms that a person can experience with a dual diagnosis can vary based on what type of mental health disorder/substance use disorder they have. For example, someone who is addicted to meth and has bipolar disorder may exhibit symptoms such as extreme bouts of mania/depression, grandiose behavior, and insomnia. Or, a person with antisocial personality disorder and alcohol use disorder may become completely withdrawn socially, develop suicidal tendencies, and find themselves depressed more often than not. In general, however, the majority of dual diagnosis symptoms are shared across the board. The can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Sudden, unexplained changes in mood and/or behavior
- Problems upholding daily responsibilities
- Participating in dangerous behaviors (e.g. driving while under the influence, using while responsible for minors, having unprotected sex with strangers)
- Decline in personal hygiene
- Difficulty maintaining relationships with friends, family, and romantic interests
- Significant anxiety, panic, or worry
- Problems concentrating
- Experiencing delusions or hallucinations
Again, not everyone with a dual diagnosis is going to exhibit all of these symptoms, as each person has their own unique factors related to their condition. Some people may have minor symptoms related to their dual diagnosis while others may be having a more severe experience. Either way, a person does not have to live with untreated dual diagnosis. While it cannot be cured, dual diagnosis can be effectively treated.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment & Coaching
For decades, people who were addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and showing signs of a mental health disorder at the same time were told by healthcare professionals to sober up before attempting to get any type of mental health treatment. As more information has been learned about dual diagnosis, it has become clear that the most appropriate way to treat someone experiencing both conditions is to treat them simultaneously, not separately. Utilizing a comprehensive, combined approach, individuals with a dual diagnosis can have both their mental health disorder and their substance use disorder treated safely and effectively.
Integrated intervention is an evidence-based approach that is used to treat those with co-occurring disorders. Put simply, integrated intervention works to address all of a patient’s concerns at the same time, regardless of if they are more closely related to their mental health disorder or their substance use disorder. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the main principles of integrated intervention include the following:
