Dual Diagnosis

A person with dual diagnosis has both a mental disorder and an alcohol or drug problem. These conditions occur together frequently. About half of people who have a mental disorder will also have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives and vice versa. The interactions of the two conditions can worsen both.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

A Dual diagnosis means you have both a mental health and substance use disorder concomitantly. Also known as co-occurring disorder and co-morbidity, dual diagnosis is a combination of diagnoses.

Mental health disorders include depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. While a substance use disorder may involve alcohol, drugs or other addictive substances.

When both disorders occur simultaneously, the effects of each can be worse. Left untreated, mental health issues can lead to the use of or increase substance abuse. Creating a vicious cycle as the use of substances can cause or enhance mental health disorders. The two go hand in hand. Where there is one issue, more often that not the other is present as well.

Just how common is it?

Research shows that 50% of people who experience a substance use disorder during their lives will also have a mental health disorder. In 2020, 17 million U.S. adults had a co-occurring mental health disorder and substance use disorder.

Dual Diagnosis Symptoms

Substance abuse and Mental health disorders each have their own symptoms. There is a wide variation of symptoms due in part to the different combinations of dual diagnoses.

Substance Abuse Disorder symptoms include:

Self-isolating from family and friends.
Difficulty focusing.
Sudden behavioral changes
Engaging in risky behaviors.
Developing a high tolerance for the substance
Depending on the substance to function

Mental Health Disorder symptoms include:

Mood swings
Confusion/ brain fog
impaired judgement
Problems concentrating.
In-ability to function at work or school.
Avoidance of social activities and settings.
Suicidal, and self-harming thoughts

What causes dual diagnosis?

Researchers have a few theories about why substance use and mental health disorders occur together.

Mental health and subtance abuse disorders have similar risk factors such as:

Genetics: Research shows genes may contribute to the risk of developing either condition.
Environmental factors: Stress and trauma can be generational, which can contribute to the development of substance abuse mental health disorders.

How is a dual diagnosis diagnosed?

Healthcare providers use a wide range of screening tools to evaluate patients for both. Honesty is important when consulting with the provider. The information shared will assist in determining which disorders a patient may identify with, as well as aid in selecting treatment methods.

Potential treatment options may include one or a combination of the following:

Behavioral Therapy, Medication, Support Groups, In or Out Patient Care.