Dual Diagnosis
When talking about drug and alcohol rehabilitation, “dual diagnosis” is the terminology used to describe the condition of a client who has both an drug or alcohol addiction and an underlying psychiatric or emotional condition that exascerbates or contributes to their addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Even though both of the conditions are seperate diagnosis’, for example; alcoholism and depression, they are interelated and together usually require specialized attention during drug and alcohol rehabilitation process to achieve complete recovery.
Many individuals who suffer from psychiatric or emotional illness are at a higher risk for developing problems with substance abuse and addiction because the individuals tend to use substances in an effort to “self medicate” themselves. At the same time, many individuals who are suffering from drug and alcohol addictions have underlying psychiatric conditions that contribute to their addiction.
In some instances individuals who are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction can develop a psychiatric illness as a result of drug and alcohol abuse, or even as one of the withdrawal symptoms. In all cases the individual needs to get sober and out from under the influence of drugs in order for treatment professionals to determine if the emotional illness is one that is seperate from the addiction or is a direct result of the addiction.
Through treatment at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment center, individuals with a dual diagnosis are treated for both the drug and alcohol addiction and the psychiatric condition. The treatment process for individuals suffering from dual diagnosis is initially revolved around detoxification and getting the individual to a place and time where they are no longer under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and not suffering from any lasting effects of the substance.
Following detoxification and withdrawal, the counseling or psychiatic treatment process begins. The process during rehabilitation includes therapy for both the psychological aspects of addiction and treatment individual emotional illness. The pysychological therapy for dual diagnosis can include group and individual therapy, educational workshops and lectures, behavioral and cognitive therapy, medication, support groups and other spiritual therapies.
