Dual Diagnosis Psychiatric Treatment

It is common for patients entering into residential rehab to require some form of psychiatric care for a dual diagnosis, and for any real chance at success, it's imperative that these patients get help at a facility well equipped to deliver the unique care that dual diagnosis patients need, both to conquer an addiction, but also to start feeling better mentally as well.

It goes both ways, patients experiencing psychiatric symptoms are far more likely to have a dual diagnosis of substance abuse, and substance abusers are far more likely to find themselves dealing with a dual diagnosis of depression, anxiety or another psychiatric conditions.

Unless the psychiatric symptoms present with real severity, most healthcare professionals recommend an initial recovery in a drug rehab, as long as that rehab offers programming with awareness to the specific needs of the dual diagnosis patient. The elimination of drugs or alcohol can cause an immediate betterment of psychiatric symptoms, and from a base of sobriety, the problems of the co-occurring disorders can be far more effectively tackled

What types of unique care do dual diagnosis patient need from a rehab facility?

A comprehensive pre assessment interview

To offer effective care, rehab professionals need to know exactly what psychiatric symptoms are present. These experienced and presented symptoms vary greatly with each patient, and to ensure safety and appropriate therapies, the pre intake assessment needs to be both comprehensive and intensive. Dual diagnosis addicts are notoriously inaccurate with self descriptions of symptoms and of drug taking behaviors, and to ensure a truthful and complete overview of the situation, outside medical staff involved in the case history should be invited to contribute to the care plan, as should the family.

This pre intake assessment ensures that treatments start from day one with an awareness of the unique challenges facing each individual patient, and that all patients receive the types of therapies likely to offer the greatest benefit.

Detox

Depending on the drug of abuse, the severity of the addiction, and the medications used in the treatment of psychiatric symptoms; the period of detox can present with some very unique challenges. Detox professionals need to be aware of possible medication interaction effects, aware of how psychiatric symptoms may interact with the symptoms of detox, and be especially vigilant to any great worsening in psychiatric symptoms and the potential risks of harm to self or others.

Treatment

For best results, dual diagnosis patients need integrated and comprehensive treatment for both the addiction and the symptoms of illness together. Although separate entities, these two problems interplay and influence one another, and without bettering both diseases, there is little chance of long term sobriety.

Dual diagnosis patients benefit from all of the standard therapies of drug and alcohol rehab, but they need additional psychiatric consultations and a close monitoring of their symptoms, with an adjustment of medications if necessary.

Aftercare

Dual diagnosis patients can and do get better, but the treatment is certainly more challenging. Family needs to be patient and allow for a full stay of residence, and even after the completion of rehab ensure a full and active participation in aftercare therapies, therapies that greatly increase the probability of success.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the recovering dual diagnosis addict may benefit from the assignment of a case worker, someone who will check on progress made through the initial months after rehab, and someone ready to intervene should relapse seem imminent.

Get help

The dangers inherent in a dual addiction and psychiatric condition demand that treatment proceed without delay. Drugs and alcohol can reduce the efficacy of prescription medications, and they can also increase psychiatric symptoms severity. As symptoms get worse, the natural response is ever greater self medication through drugs or alcohol; a downward spiral with no positive outcomes without intervention.