Dual Diagnosis Mental Illness: What Is Dual Diagnosis?

If you know someone with a mental illness, depending upon their disorders it is possible that you may have heard this term. You may have also heard of any number of terms as well, however. Co-occurring disorders. Comorbid disorders. Co-occurring illnesses. Co-morbidity. There are a number of terms used to describe the same issue that a person may have. That can be confusing, but as long as you know what dual diagnosis means then you will know what all of them mean.

Some might assume that dual diagnosis means that a person has two mental illnesses at the same time. However, this is not true. Rather, one of the issues that a person faces with a dual diagnosis is not a mental disorder at all. When someone has a dual diagnosis, they have two very closely linked ongoing issues. The first is a psychiatric diagnosis. The second is a substance abuse diagnosis. Dual diagnosis is more frequent than one might think, often because the mental disorder can lead to the use of drugs or alcohol or vice versa.

The Psychiatric Side

There are many different mental illnesses that a person may suffer from when a dual diagnosis is given. However, there are some mental disorders that tend to be more common than others. Depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders appear more frequently in a dual diagnosis than others. Mental disorders affect people in different ways, and depending upon how they are coping with their disorder in conjunction with the substance abuse, it may not be evident right away that there is a problem. At other times, the symptoms of substance abuse and the symptoms of the mental disorder may overlap one another. This can make diagnosis more difficult because telling one symptom from another can be difficult. They can even mask one another, leading to additional diagnosis and treatment problems.

The Substance Abuse Side

Substance abuse can take the form of drugs or alcohol. It is possible that because of the mental disorder, people seek out ways to help cope with their problem without seeking professional help or speaking to loved ones first. Continued use can lead to a chemical dependency which will only compound the issue of the mental illness. It is also possible that the continued use of drugs or alcohol is at the starting point, allowing for the mental illness to come in later. Some people may acknowledge one illness and yet fail to acknowledge the second. They may accept that they are depressed, but when another person attempts to tell them that they are also an alcoholic, they may go into denial. Things can quickly turn into a dangerous cycle where the person tries to self-medicate, fails, worsens their mental condition, and continues to use drugs or alcohol to cope or mask their issue.

The Final Combination

Having a mental illness together with substance abuse can be dangerous for the person, both mentally and physically. They need help and treatment. There are many different possible combinations and patterns that deal with mental illness and substance abuse. Each of these things put together can make it difficult to figure out what the problem is, as well as how to properly combat it. Even when a person is going through withdrawal of alcohol or drugs, some of their symptoms may even mimic a mental illness or the symptoms of one.

If you suspect someone you know has a mental illness, but is also taking drugs or drinking alcohol, see if you can find a way to give that person the help he or she needs. Take note if they seem to be having troubles financially, if they withdraw from social situations, have problems at work, with family, or in intimate relationships, increased emergency room admissions, multiple admissions for psychiatric care, or even have legal problems or face incarceration. The sooner you can convince them that you want to help and that they would benefit from treatment, the better off they will be.

Emerald Hall

Emerald Hall supports adults living with a developmental disability and a mental health issue that requires intense support that is only available in hospital. Many are not able to live in the community due to a lack of resources and available housing. Staff support patients to build skills and confidence within a holistic approach. It is person-centered care that recognizes and respects the dignity of every patient.

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