How Do You Define Dual Diagnosis?

What is the dual diagnosis and how is it treated? Let’s define a dual diagnosis with a brief explanation of how it works here.

Being diagnosed with any mental health illness is challenging enough. But, what does it mean if you also have an addiction?

Approximately 9.2 billion  Americans are diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder every year.

Even though a dual diagnosis can seem overwhelming, by educating yourself on how to define dual a diagnosis and treatment options, you or your loved one can be on the path towards recovery and a better life.

Read on to learn more about what dual diagnosis is and how you can take steps towards treatment.

How to Define Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is not something that is as understood as other conditions. To put it simply, it’s the treatment of someone who is suffering from an addiction and a psychiatric illness.

Some examples of a dual diagnosis:

• Bipolar and alcoholism
• Major Depression and addiction to opioids
• ADHD and substance abuse

Prognosis VS Diagnosis

A dual diagnosis can be tricky from the initial diagnosis to confronting a loved one with an addiction and mental illness

The difference between prognosis and diagnosis can be confusing. Understanding the terms can also help to understand how to define the dual diagnosis.

Prognosis is the outcome a medical professional expects with a particular diagnosis based on all the factors.

Diagnosis is when the problem is identified and labeled with a known illness or disorder.

Prognosis is good if the right steps and actions are taken when facing a co-occurring disorder. Both things have to be treated in order to treat the other.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder don’t give up. With the will to heal and the help of professionals you have a great chance of healing and recovering.

What Are Treatment Options?

Both issues need to be treated for the best outcome when dealing with a dual diagnosis. Addiction really has nothing to do with addiction. Instead, it’s related to mental illness.

Most people turn to other substances to offset things like trauma, anxiety, or depression. Getting to the root of the problem is necessary to begin treatment for addiction.

Treatment centers for dual diagnosis can be essential to treating mental illness and addiction simultaneously. A combination of therapy and medication is used to treat you and help you get back on track towards living your life.

Getting the proper care from someone qualified to treat and define dual diagnoses is necessary when you are looking into treatment options. It’s not something you want to embark on by yourself.

Although more difficult to treat, a dual diagnosis can be overcome with the right help and motivation. Check out our blog for more articles like this!