Dual Diagnosis and its Importance

Dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorder, refers to treatment of both psychological disorder and that of addiction in a person. In most instances, this occurs among drug addicts or alcohol addicts who also exhibit anxiety, post-traumatic disorder, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and other various personality disorders.

Mental disorders are considered offshoot of drug addiction. Drug rehabilitation centers confirm that if addiction is not treated earlier, substance abusers may develop mental and psychological imbalances such schizophrenia and hallucinations. This is most probably the reason why dual diagnosis treatment programs have become indispensable in most places where drug and alcohol abuse is so rampant. This is practically important given that it ideally treats two ailments simultaneously.

When a person enters drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, medical professionals examine and assess the patient and his/her conditions. The results of this assessment become the basis for the dual diagnosis treatment programs that will later on be used for the treatment.

Detox treatment is always a part of the treatment program in all residential drug treatment centers. Others however, prefer medical detoxification without having to be confined at this treatment centers.

Drug treatment centers have psychiatric counselors to give series of psychiatric tests to its patients. This is important in determining the extent of addiction and the mental illness of the patient, from which becomes the basis for the overall treatment program of each individual.