Dual Diagnosis Information
A person who has both an alcohol or drug problem and an emotional/psychiatric problem is said to have a dual diagnosis. To recover fully from dual diagnosis, the person needs treatment for both problems. Dual diagnosis is more common than you might imagine. According to a report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association: Thirty-seven percent of people who suffer from alcohol abuse and fifty-three percent from drug abuse also have at least one serious mental illness. Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent have a drug abuse or alcohol abuse problem.
What Kind of Mental or Emotional Problems are Seen in People with Dual Diagnosis?
The following psychiatric problems are common to occur in dual diagnosis - i.e., in tandem with alcohol or drug dependency.
· Depressive disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder.
· Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.
· Other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and personality disorders.
Which Develops First - Substance Abuse or the Emotional Problem?
It depends. Often the psychiatric problem develops first. In an attempt to feel calmer, more peppy, or more cheerful, a person with emotional symptoms may drink or use drugs; doctors call this “self-medication.” Frequent self-medication may eventually lead to physical or psychological dependency on alcohol or drugs. If it does, the person then suffers from not just one problem, but two. In adolescents, however, drug or alcohol abuse may merge and continue into adulthood, which may contribute to the development of emotional difficulties or psychiatric disorders.
In other cases, alcoholism or drug dependency is the primary condition. A person whose substance abuse problem has become severe may develop symptoms of a psychiatric disorder: perhaps episodes of depression, fits of rage, hallucinations, or suicide attempts.
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