Different Treatment Options For Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder happens to a person when he has both drug or alcohol and psychiatric problems. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders and schizophrenia often occur together with drug abuse. There are different treatments available based on what type of diagnosis the person has. As people understood dual diagnosis, more centers have emerged and specialized in helping dual diagnosis victims. Dual diagnosis intervention helps the patient realize the significance of professional help with their dependency and mental health disorder. Such intervention is provided by health care providers in Dual Diagnosis Treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment

This particular treatment for dual diagnosis involves inpatient alcohol treatment that begins with cleansing. This is a method that aims to remove body toxins. When detox is done and the affected person is willing to continue his therapy, the mental behavioral therapy will follow to prevent relapses. This treatment therapy is focused on skills which can help in dealing with high risk drinking circumstances and minimize mental symptoms. When a person suffers from anxiety and depression, he’s prone to drink so supporting him in effectively managing his moods will be helpful in staying away from these drinking urges.

Psychotherapeutic Interventions

Dual diagnosis victims are given psychotherapeutic treatments that address both their psychiatric and substance abuse problems. This requires exerting efforts to encourage and keep clients to continue their treatment, make themselves educated as to how their psychiatric symptoms and drug abuse are associated with each other and be taught about the skills which help them in controlling the signs and symptoms.

Pharmacotherapy

This is a dual diagnosis treatment which usually includes a lot of issues. Patients are likely to be reluctant when they’re told that they have to be given with a different substance that will change their mood especially when they’re in the recovery phase. Thus, the patient should be educated enough to know the approach. Public education is also essential because patients with dual diagnosis are more likely to face criticism when some people will know that these victims are taking drugs to prevent relapse. Pharmacotherapy like other Drug Treatment Programs is based on different principles:

• Using drugs to disorders that are substance-induced while considering the patient’s basic safety and proper management of his medications

• Drugs that have a high liability of abuse must not be administered.

• Medications must be properly selected and given.

• Medicines need to target the syndromes that are not risky to intervene than symptoms.

• Complying with the prescribed medication together with mental education and help.