Dual diagnosis or co-occurring condition happens to an individual when he has both alcohol or drug and psychiatric issues
. Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, personality problems and schizophrenia often occur together with drug abuse. There are various remedies available depending on what kind of diagnosis the person has. As people understood dual diagnosis, more treatment centers have surfaced and specialized in helping dual diagnosis victims. Dual diagnosis treatment helps the patient realize the importance of professional guidance with their addiction and mental health condition. Such intervention is provided by health care providers in Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
This treatment for dual diagnosis involves inpatient alcohol treatment that starts with detoxification. This is a process that aims to remove toxic compounds. When detox is done and the patient is willing to continue his therapy, the mental behavioral therapy will follow to stop relapses. This therapy is centered on skills which can help in dealing with high-risk drinking circumstances and minimize mental symptoms. When a person suffers from depression and anxiety, he is likely to drink so helping him in effectively managing his moods will be helpful in avoiding these drinking urges.
Psychotherapeutic Interventions
Dual diagnosis patients are given psychotherapeutic treatments that address both their mental and drug abuse problems. This requires exerting efforts to motivate and keep clients to continue their therapy, make themselves educated as to how their mental symptoms and substance abuse are linked to each other and be taught about the skills that help them in controlling the signs and symptoms.
Pharmacotherapy
This is a dual diagnosis therapy which usually comes with a lot of issues. Victims are likely to be reluctant when they're told that they have to be given with another substance that will alter their mood specially when they are in the recovery stage. Thus, the patient should be educated enough to know the approach. Public education is also imperative because patients with dual diagnosis are prone to face criticism when some people will know that these individuals are taking medicines to avoid relapse. Pharmacotherapy like other Drug Treatment Programs is based on different principles:
Using medicines to disorders which are substance-induced while considering the patient's basic safety and the right management of his medications
Medicines which have a high liability of abuse must not be administered.
Medications should be properly chosen and administered.
Medicines need to target the syndromes which are not risky to intervene than symptoms.
Complying with the medication prescribed by the doctor together with mental education and help.