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In the world of substance abuse treatment when a patient presents with symptoms of a mental disorder as well as needing treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, this is called a dual diagnosis situation. Dual diagnosis happens quite often in substance abuse treatment centers. Whether the substance abuse is present first or the mental disorder is present first is not always easy to ascertain. Whatever the case may be, the treatment plan must be designed to fully address both problems, not giving emphasis to either one or the other but intensively treating both at the same time.
Sometimes it seems that the mental problems may have surfaced first and lead the patient to abuse substances in order to feel better-this is called self-medicating.
Other times it appears that the substance abuse came first and led to the development of mental issues. It is a challenge for the physician to tell which problem is the primary problem to treat, for so many symptoms of severe alcoholism or drug addiction impersonate the symptoms in many types of mental illness. The best thing to do in order to begin treatment right away is to detoxify the patient. Detoxification is when the patient is removed from any presence of alcohol or drugs and the body withdraws from the effects of the substance abuse. Complete withdrawal must happen before the physician can properly evaluate the patient and put together an effective treatment plan.
Once the patient has been detoxed and the body recuperates from the withdrawal process, the dual diagnosis can be determined and a two-pronged rehabilitation treatment program that will address both problems can begin in earnest. Rehab involves therapy that utilizes one-on-one sessions as well as group sessions, education about substance abuse addiction, and a focus on overall body health including nutrition and exercise. The goal of rehabilitation is to bring the body back to health, ready to enjoy life free from addiction.
