Dual Diagnosis: The Link between Mental Health and Addiction

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Introduction

Dual Diagnosis (also known as co-occurring disorders, comorbidity or co-morbidity) is the presence of both a substance use disorder and one or more serious mental illnesses. Say’s Dr Louis Hampers, a person can have two separate disorders, or one disorder may cause another. For example, someone with bipolar disorder might also struggle with alcoholism or drug addiction. Both conditions need to be treated in order for recovery to be successful.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

The term “dual diagnosis” refers to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a serious mental illness (SMI). It’s important to understand the link between addiction and mental health issues; many people who suffer from addiction also have another psychiatric condition, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

It’s also important to note that there are other types of dual diagnoses as well: people can be diagnosed with both an SMI and an addictive behavior like gambling or overeating, for example.

When one or more mental health conditions are present, it’s called “comorbidity,” or having more than one disorder. The term dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a serious mental illness (SMI).

When one or more mental health conditions are present, it’s called “comorbidity,” or having more than one disorder. The term dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a serious mental illness (SMI).

A person with a dual diagnosis may experience symptoms of both disorders at the same time and in different ways, or they may experience them separately over time. For example, someone who experiences depression might feel sad, lose interest in activities that were once enjoyable and have trouble sleeping; someone with anxiety might find it hard to concentrate on tasks or control his impulses; someone with schizophrenia might hear voices telling him things aren’t real or believe others are out to get him.

When you’re trying to deal with these issues alone–without help from medical professionals–it can be difficult to know where one problem stops and another begins because there’s often overlap between the two conditions (e.,g., nausea caused by anxiety medication could feel similar as nausea caused by alcohol withdrawal).

How do addiction and mental health issues interact?

Mental illness and addiction often coexist. In fact, the two conditions are so intertwined that it can be difficult to discern where one ends and the other begins. Individuals with mental health disorders are more likely than those who don’t have these issues to develop substance use problems later in life, while people who struggle with substance abuse may experience symptoms of depression or anxiety that contribute to their drug use.

Furthermore, research suggests that there may be a causal relationship between addiction and mental illness: People who have been diagnosed with both conditions have higher risks for relapse than those without either disorder alone; similarly, scientists believe that having an addiction can contribute directly or indirectly–by way of self-medication–to the onset of certain mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

Conclusion

When one or more mental health conditions are present, it’s called “comorbidity,” or having more than one disorder. The term dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a serious mental illness (SMI). If left untreated, these conditions can lead to serious consequences such as suicide attempts, homelessness or incarceration.

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