Dual Diagnosis Treatment
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A dual diagnosis involves patients who, in addition to substance abuse and/or addiction, also suffer from a medical condition such as an eating disorder or other special dietary needs. The term dual diagnosis is often used interchangeably with the terms co-morbidity, co-occurring illnesses, concurrent disorders, co-morbid disorders, co-occurring disorder, dual disorder, and, double trouble. California rehabilitation centers believes that dual diagnosis occurs when an individual is affected by both an emotional or psychiatric illness (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anti-social personality disorder, narcissistic personality, and depression), and a chemical dependency. The chemical dependency can include drug addiction, alcoholism, or often times both.
Drug treatment centers claim that dual diagnosis can be difficult to identify because the symptoms of one disorder often mimic the symptoms of the other disorder. Many of the symptoms of drug abuse, such as extreme anxiety, depression, paranoia, delusions and hallucinations are similar to symptoms of mental illness. Admission to this level of treatment for dual diagnosis requires an assessment by a residential drug treatment center. Usually an appointment is necessary and there are many centers available 24 hours a day. If you have a serious problem you can also go directly to an emergency room. Dual diagnosis treatment programs are being developed to treat both disorders together which are the optimal way to treat dual diagnosis. There is a metabolic process by which the toxic qualities of a drug or poison are eliminated by the body. Addiction treatment centers also conduct detox treatment during which the body rids itself of the remnants of toxic chemical compounds remaining in the system after a long period of abusing any mind-altering substance.
Detox treatment from drugs and alcohol is the first step in the dual diagnosis treatment programs. To be effective, dual diagnosis services are tailored to the individual and include different types of assistance that go beyond standard therapy or medication: assertive outreach, job and housing assistance, family counseling, even money and relationship management. Attention should be given to finding support groups for people with co-occurring disorders that can serve to reinforce important issues such as opportunities to socialize, having access to recreational activities, and developing peer relationships. The 12-step approach has a strong spiritual component in that the treatment recovery steps include admitting powerlessness over the addiction and surrendering to a “higher power,” which you can interpret according to your own beliefs.