What is the Definition of Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
If you have spent any amount of time researching drug and alcohol treatment for a loved one, then you will, no doubt, have encountered the term dual-diagnosis treatment. But what is dual-diagnosis treatment exactly? What differentiates it from other types of addiction care and how do you know if your loved one has a co-occurring condition that could benefit from dual-diagnosis care?
Dual-diagnosis treatment is a form of mental health care that addresses two or more conditions simultaneously. For addiction treatment centers, the most common scenario is a patient who has a substance use disorder but also has a secondary mental health diagnosis, like depression for example.
In this case, depression is what is known as a co-occurring disorder. The depression may have preceded the substance use disorder or it may have surfaced during it. In either case, it is co-occurring, which means the patient has had to contend with both addiction and other mental health symptoms at the same time. One of the reasons this is such a cause for concern is that untreated mental health disorders are a leading cause of recurrent substance abuse.
Diagnosing Co-Occurring Conditions During Treatment is Vital
According to clinical studies, as many as ⅔ of the people who enter treatment for substance use disorder treatment qualify as dual-diagnosis patients. The problem is that only about 20-25% of U.S. alcohol and drug rehab centers offer a true dual-diagnosis treatment program. This means the average patient only has a 1-in-4 chance, at best, of being admitted to a treatment program that can properly evaluate a co-occurring condition.
Dual-diagnosis treatment is critical because it can ‘make or break’ a successful recovery attempt for someone with a co-occurring condition like depression or anxiety. A patient can attend drug rehab and get good care for their substance use disorder, but the treatment center may still fail them if they aren’t capable of diagnosing and treating a co-occurring condition. The bottom line is that a patient who leaves treatment with an untreated condition is often far more vulnerable to relapse.
Dual-diagnosis treatment serves a critical role because:
- About 70% of people who enter treatment have a co-occurring disorder.
- Most patients with co-occurring disorders are unaware of their diagnosis before rehab.
- Untreated mental health disorders are a leading cause of relapse and recidivism.
- Treating both substance use and mental health together yields better outcomes.
How Do I Know If My Loved One Needs Dual-Diagnosis Treatment?
One of the first questions people often ask about dual-diagnosis treatment is “How do you know if you need it?”. The answer is you often don’t know. Unless you or your loved one has been previously diagnosed with a mental health disorder like bipolar depression or PTSD, for example — then you can only speculate.
When someone is actively using drugs or alcohol it can both mimic or mask the symptoms of other disorders. It can be hard to tell which came first, the chicken or the egg. Did the drinking cause their depression? Or did the depression lead to drinking? If the alcohol is removed, will the depression dissipate on its own?
These are very difficult questions to answer. But, it’s best not to take chances when it comes to mental health. This is why dual-diagnosis treatment is so valuable. Think of it as hedging your bets. If a patient doesn’t have a co-occurring condition and it’s substance abuse alone that’s their problem, they will get outstanding care at Eternal Purpose Recovery.
If they do have a co-occurring condition — they will be in good hands here. You can be confident that the mental health professionals at Eternal Purpose Recovery will accurately diagnose the secondary condition and, most importantly, the individualized treatment plan will reflect that. All of this goes towards giving every patient we treat the best possible chances of successful recovery.
What is Treatment For Co-Occurring Conditions Like?
The specific treatment a patient receives will vary according to their diagnosis. Because we maintain a very small and exclusive patient population here, our clinicians can get to know each patient well and build tailor-made treatment plans for each of them.
As a comprehensive dual-diagnosis addiction treatment program, we offer both medical detoxification and inpatient care here. The bulk of any psychological therapy will happen after the detox phase of treatment when the patient has a clearer mind and more stability.
They will be carefully evaluated by our team of expert mental health clinicians. Clinical staff discuss each patient’s assessment in caseload meetings where an individual treatment plan is handcrafted to address that patient’s specific set of needs and challenges.
Dual-diagnosis treatment plans at Eternal Purpose Recovery include:
- 24-hour clinical support
- Individual psychiatric assessments
- Individual (one-on-one) therapy
- Group therapy sessions
- Family therapy sessions
