What are Co-occurring Disorders?

Co-occurring disorders are clinical conditions that affect millions of Americans, but what does the term mean? When a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder coexist, the diagnosis is known as a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis.

A dual diagnosis can involve one substance use disorder and one mental health disorder or multiple addictions and psychiatric conditions at once. For instance, most people diagnosed with depression also struggle with alcoholism and painkiller addiction. People with PTSD can also have a substance use disorder and depression.

While some combinations of co-occurring disorders are more frequent than others, any combination of substance addiction and mental health problems is considered a co-occurring disorder.

How Common Are Co-Occurring Disorders

Statistics show that about 8 million Americans are currently battling co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders can affect people of all ages and from all walks of life.

However, people diagnosed with a mental health disorder are two times more likely to develop a substance use disorder and vice versa.

What Causes Co-Occurring Disorders?

Either condition, mental health or substance use disorder, can develop first. Often, people suffering from a mental health condition will use alcohol or drugs to try and cope with their symptoms. This situation is known as self-medication.

In other instances, the prolonged use of alcohol or drugs can trigger or aggravate psychological problems. Research studies have shown that some drugs or long-term substance use can exacerbate the symptoms of mental health disorders.

Factors that increase your vulnerability to developing co-occurring disorders are:

• Recurrent substance abuse
• The presence of a mental illness
• A traumatic life event or a history of trauma
• Lack of appropriate treatment for substance addiction or mental health condition
• Family or genetic history of substance addiction or mental health disorders

Treating Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders can have a devastating mental toll. If left untreated, the co-occurring disorder can result in higher risks of a drug overdose, suicide, social isolation, hospitalization, victimization, violence, and incarceration.

Fortunately, co-occurring disorders are treatable. However, since they are highly entwined, they must be treated together and by the same treatment team. This approach is called integrated dual diagnosis treatment. Attempting to treat co-occurring disorders separately or in separate facilities is not recommended. If one disorder is left untreated or not properly treated, it can easily trigger a relapse of the other condition.

Get Started with Integrated Dial Diagnosis Treatment Today

If you or your loved one is battling a co-occurring disorder, you should seek professional integrated dual diagnosis treatment in a reputable facility. At Galt Ocean Rehab, we offer personalized addiction and mental health treatment in a recovery-friendly environment.

Our services include case management, medical and psychiatric treatment, individual therapy, holistic treatment program, and aftercare programs. We also offer outpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs, and partial hospitalization programs. Call us at (844) 468-1345 to book your admission and get started on your journey to recovery.

References

American Psychiatric Association https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction-substance-use-disorders/what-is-a-substance-use-disorder

SAMHSA https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders#:~:text=Co%2Doccurring%20disorders%20may%20include,uniquely%20as%20co%2Doccurring%20disorders.

World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders

National Library of Medicine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30352668/