Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Elements Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Programs: Promises Treatment Centers | The Ranch | The Recovery Place

Although many treatment programs claim to include dual diagnosis treatment, it is often simply an afterthought. An exceptional treatment program will develop a clear clinical program for the specific purpose of treating the underlying issues that may fuel an addiction or eating disorder. Without comprehensive clinical assessment and focused treatment of the dual diagnosis, the client is at high risk for relapse. Dual diagnosis treatment must be a primary part of the treatment program, not simply an ancillary treatment option.

What is dual diagnosis? Rarely do we see clients who do not have a secondary mental health issue concurrent with the addiction or eating disorder. Depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, undiagnosed or undertreated ADHD, and other psychological issues have often long been present, and many times the disordered behavior has been in response to unrecognized or poorly managed psychiatric or emotional disorders.

Dual diagnosis treatment addresses not only the substance abuse or eating disorder, but the underlying psychiatric diagnosis as well. In high-end treatment programs such as Promises, this means a comprehensive assessment is the first step in the treatment process. Often people have been improperly medicated for dual diagnosis disorders. They may be overmedicated in the case of anxiety disorders, and this can create a backlash effect. For depression, poor treatment management can result in frustration and a sense of hopelessness. The goal of dual diagnosis treatment is to help the client develop a clear plan for the future, and where indicated, refer them to clinicians in their home town to continue treatment after discharge.

The importance of dual diagnosis treatment cannot be exaggerated. Issues such as trauma, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, and compulsive disorders are risk factors for relapse. If a person returns home without addressing significant psychiatric disorders, they may feel compelled to self-medicate. Often, substance abuse begins when those suffering from depression or other disorders try to find a solution on their own. They essentially just want to feel better, and in desperation, turn to alcohol and drugs or other compulsive behaviors that seem to mitigate their symptoms. However, this form of self-medicating does not result in any true relief from symptoms. They may temporarily blunt the troubling symptoms, but they often come back full force soon after and the suffering person finds they need more drugs or alcohol, or more excessive compulsive behaviors, to get relief in the future.

Often people are dismissive of those with psychiatric disorders. Family members may tell a depressed person to just get up and do something and they’ll feel better. They may show skepticism toward panic attacks or bouts of severe anxiety, telling the person it’s all in their head. In a way it is all in their head, but not in the way people often believe. These are serious disorders caused by chemical imbalances that are usually medically treatable. If someone you love is abusing substances or otherwise acting compulsively due to depression, anxiety, or other co-occurring disorders, professional intervention and treatment give them an opportunity to live a full, extraordinary life.

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