Some people can be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and substance abuse disorder. That is a dual diagnosis. Some people mistakenly believe that the condition is rare. But it’s actually more common than you might think, with about 50 percent of individuals who abuse drugs or alcohol having at least one mental condition, says Addiction Blog. Here are a few other things you might want to know:
Common mental disorders
A lot of dual diagnosis patients suffer from the following: bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, major depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Included in the list are eating disorders, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder as well.
Help and assistance
Dual diagnoses are hard to treat. If you suspect a loved one or friend might suffer from this condition, one way to help is to look for dual diagnosis treatment centers in Sacramento. Getting the person treatment is of the utmost importance and the sooner it is done, the sooner the healing and recovery can start. If you wait until you think the person is ready, it might be too late.
Greater susceptibility
Those with mental illness are typically more at risk for addiction, especially those who suffer from depression and anxiety. These are the cases that are often more likely to escalate from casual drug use to drug dependency and addiction.
Longer treatments
Given the situation, dual diagnosis treatments often take longer. Recovery from drug or alcohol abuse can take weeks if not months and years. Add the patience and care required for treating mental illness and the treatment could take a lot longer.
Finding help
Not all rehab facilities are equipped to handle these cases. It’s important to find dual diagnosis treatment centers in Sacramento that have experienced doctors and staff on board to provide care and assistance. These facilities often have psychiatric staff on hand to ensure help for dual diagnosis patients.
