What is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual Diagnosis is a term used for a medical condition in which the patient has co-existence or co-morbidity of mental illness and drug addiction.
According to a survey, National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 45% of the United States population is suffering from Dual Diagnosis, which is a very alarming situation.
If we called Dual Diagnosis a “Silent Killer,” we wouldn’t be wrong.
Because most of the time, we might not notice that we are gradually being pushed towards Dual Diagnosis by certain mental conditions, environmental stresses, or addictive drugs.
When this goes unnoticed, it can lead to a much more severe condition and ultimately be fatal.
Before moving towards the dual diagnosis treatment, let’s look at some of the things that cause it.
What can trigger Dual Diagnosis?
Dual Diagnosis includes two disorders, a mental illness, and a drug addiction.
Both of these can give rise to each other, ultimately resulting in the condition, Dual Diagnosis.
Any factor that causes any of these two disorders is a significant risk for developing Dual Diagnosis.
Mental Illnesses that cause Dual Diagnosis:
Almost every type of mental illness can be a causative agent for Dual Diagnosis.
Following are the most common ones:
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
Drugs that cause Dual Diagnosis:
All those drugs that can lead to addiction or make one dependent on it can lead him/her to Dual Diagnosis.
Similarly, drugs that can trigger any mental illness can also be a leading cause.
The most common addictive drugs are the following:
- Alcohol
- Heroin
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamines (meth/crystal)
- Nicotine
How do Mental Illnesses and Drug Addiction Occur Simultaneously?
Mental Illness as the initial cause:
If you are in your 20s or just had a bad day at work, you would know how sometimes you feel the urge to escape everything and look for different ways to do that.
A patient of Dual Diagnosis experiences the same.
Anxiety, depression, and mental stresses can compel people to depend on drugs, like alcohol, for a fleeting moment of relief in the search for euphoria.
This misuse of drugs then leads to drug addiction.
The result is that the patient now has both mental disorders and drug addiction, the sum of which we call Dual Diagnosis.
Drug Addiction being the initial cause:
Occasionally, a doctor may prescribe you some medicines to treat your insomnia.
This pervasive sleep disorder can seriously affect your mental state if taken in excess or for a long time.
Similarly, there are other common drugs, like alcohol, which can either worsen the addiction or change your behavior towards different aspects of life into a negative one.
Common drugs that can cause serious mental health problems are as follows:
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Alcohol
These drugs can cause the following mental health problems:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress disorders
- Bipolar disorder
Dual Diagnosis Treatment:
The goal of the dual diagnosis treatment varies depending upon the initial cause of the condition.
Speaking of which, it is essential to note that finding out what caused the condition in the first place can be a challenging task, and most of the time, it goes undetermined.
To treat this condition, it is essential to treat its root causes, i.e., mental health problems and drug addiction or drug misuse.
Which to Treat First?
It is essential to treat the condition that is worsening with time.
It can either be a mental health problem or a drug addiction.
But most commonly, the treatment of Dual Diagnosis is a set of goals to treat both the causes simultaneously.
Some of the most influential and essential treatments are listed below:
- Psychotherapy
- Hospitalization
- Support groups
- Behavioural therapies
- Alternate or complementary medicines
Counselling Dual Diagnoses can be fatal if not treated.
If you come across someone in your family that is going through some similar conditions, don’t forget to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Try not to be dependent on drugs for mental relief.
Always reach out to your family, friends, or your local counselor if you find yourself in any kind of mental health problem.