The terms dual diagnosis and co-occurring describe a condition where a person is affected by both chemical dependency and an emotional or psychiatric illness. Individuals who experience a dual diagnosis often face a wide range of psychosocial issues and may experience more than two interacting illnesses.
Our treatment at La Paloma is designed to handle both these illnesses. We are nationally recognized for integrative and evidence-based methods that have produced proven results for individuals with drug addiction, alcohol addiction and mental health disorders. We are one of very few facilities that are prepared to deal effectively with a dual diagnosis.
The specific causes of psychiatric illness and chemical dependency are not fully understood at this time. Family history, genetics, brain chemistry and environmental factors all appear to play important roles in the development of both psychiatric illness and chemical dependency.
Common issues associated with co-occurring disorders:
Family and social problems
Employment or school problems
High-risk behavior
DUI
Multiple admissions for chemical dependency due to relapse
Multiple admissions for psychiatric care due to reoccurrence of psychiatric symptoms
Increased emergency room admissions
Increased need for acute health care services
Legal problems and incarceration
Integrated Treatment
The foundation of an integrated treatment model is a "systems approach," which consists of looking at the psychiatric and psychological history as well as the addiction. Following a thorough evaluation and assessment, the professionals get a clear picture of how any mental issues impact the same areas of an individual's life as their addiction does. Clients are treated for both their addictive disease and any psychiatric disease, approaching both as two separate entities but also treating them simultaneously. Not exploring these areas leaves the client at risk for ongoing imbalance. The best way to illustrate this is through the example of a child's mobile. If one piece is broken or removed, the entire mobile is thrown into imbalance. Nothing works properly even though the other pieces are perfectly intact. Only by exploring all affected areas and working to bring them back into balance is true recovery possible.
La Paloma is so committed to an integrated, dual-diagnosis treatment model that they keep an independent director of research on staff to regularly assess their program. Twice yearly the director performs a comprehensive fidelity assessment, reviewing charts, interviewing clinicians, and rating the program in 20 different areas based on evidence-based practices. The findings from her detailed reports are disseminated back to the clinicians and the feedback is used to continually improve the program.
Co-occurring disorders affect over 10 million Americans each year
During the past 10 years researchers and mental health and chemical dependency treatment providers have found that dual disorders do occur with regular frequency. The National Institute of Mental Health sponsored two large-scale research studies. These studies provide significant information about dual disorders.
56% of people with bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness) abuse substances
32% of people with a mood disorder other than bipolar abuse substances
27% of people with an anxiety disorder abuse substances
Other researchers have looked at individuals who were in treatment and experienced a severe mental illness. They found that 40 percent to 60 percent of the patients also had a co-existing substance abuse disorder.
Investigators who looked at individuals in treatment for substance abuse found them to have co-existing mental disorders in rates of over 60 percent.
Clearly there are a substantial number of men and women who experience dual disorders each year. Research and clinical findings illustrate that it is not a rare occurrence but rather a problem that occurs with consistent frequency. Therefore, it is important that specialized programs and ongoing community based support groups be available for men and women who experience dual disorders.
The many faces of dual disorders
Because of the range of emotional and psychiatric illnesses, there is no single type of dual disorder. Some forms of psychiatric illness can severely impair an individual's ability to function and relate well to others, while another may be impaired during ongoing periodic episodes or cycles. The degree of impairment due to psychiatric illness may vary greatly from mild or moderate to severe, or it may occur in mixed patterns.
The nature of dual disorders becomes even more complex when alcohol and drug use is considered. For example, there are many types of intoxicating chemicals to choose from today. One may choose to use one single drug while another person may take on multiple drugs.
It becomes evident that there are many different forms of dual diagnosis when the different types of psychiatric illnesses and different patterns of alcohol and drug use are all taken into account. However, in terms of dual recovery, they do share one thing in common: an individual will need to focus treatment efforts on both illnesses within a comprehensive personal program to have a complete recovery.
At La Paloma we are committed to treating both the addiction and the disorder so that you or your loved one can find full and total recovery.
If you have any questions about co-occurring disorders, please contact our call center. Admissions counselors are available 24 hours a day at 877-345-1887.
The terms dual diagnosis and co-occurring describe a condition where a person is affected by both chemical dependency and an emotional or psychiatric illness. Individuals who experience a dual diagnosis often face a wide range of psychosocial issues and may experience more than two interacting illnesses.
