America's Premier Residential, Dual Diagnosis
Drug Alcohol Detox and Rehab Treatment Center

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Malibu Horizon Treatment Center

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program

Dual Diagnosis

Also  known as co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis is used to describe a person who suffers from a psychiatric condition and a substance alcohol abuse problem. The psychiatric condition(s) can include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, anxiety, depression, anti-social personality disorder, gambling, sex or food addiction and others.

Individuals who have sought dual diagnosis help at Malibu Horizon have found intensive treatment for dual diagnosis is the best route for treatment.

Research indicates very few treatment programs treat both conditions correctly and simultaneously. The only effective form of treatment for these conditions is simultaneous treatment in which both of the conditions are treated properly.

Dual Diagnosis Rehabilitation

Drug treatment centers claim to have had problems with dual diagnosis because it is difficult to separate the symptoms of each of the disorders. Often times the symptoms of the chemical dependency problem can mimic the symptoms of the psychiatric illness and vice versa.  For example, symptoms of drug abuse can include paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, extreme anxiety and changes in body patterns all of which can be characterized by symptoms of mental illness disorders.

Assessment, Diagnosis and Evaluation

Admission at the level of dual diagnosis must be made carefully and by a medical professional, if not a team of medical professionals.  It is suggested that individuals with co-occurring disorders utilize the services of a residential drug treatment center for treatment to be most effective.

Historically Speaking

Historically, most experts believed the substance alcohol abuse was the primary driving condition behind a patient’s psychiatric condition. And that by treating practicing abstinence from using, the psychiatric condition would gradually be eliminated.
Then many in the mental health field began to postulate the psychiatric problem(s) was  the determining factor in causing the substance alcohol abuse. (also known as self-medicating).

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

The correct answer is treating the two conditions together in a properly diagnosed and administered, integrated treatment plan.

Detox treatment from drugs and alcohol is very necessary to start the dual diagnosis treatment programs.  Dual diagnosis services are more specifically tailored to fit the needs of each individual client.  Although standard therapy practices are used in the treatment of co-occurring disorders it is also essential that the treatment plan include a solid aftercare and relapse prevention program as these clients have a difficult job trying to manage two or more illnesses once the treatment process has been completed.  These extra services can include job and housing assistance, family counseling, individual counseling, and relationship management. Relapse prevention is a large part of a dual diagnosis patient’s treatment plan as well.

Recent Statistics about Dual Diagnosis

• 60% of the people diagnosed with a bipolar condition also suffer from addiction
• 30-50% of the ADHD population suffers from addiction
• 25% of those diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression suffer from addiction
• 14 million people in the US who suffer from Dual diagnosis
• 65.5% of people with a substance dependence disorder had at least one mental disorder
• 51% of people with a mental disorder had at least one substance abuse disorder