What Is a Dual Diagnosis?

A dual diagnosis occurs when an individual is affected by both a mental illness and an addiction to alcohol, drugs or prescription medications. For many people, the psychiatric symptoms occur first, followed by the development of a substance-abuse disorder a few years later. Dual disorders are much more common than previously thought. It is now recognized that as many as 50 percent of those with mental illness also have a substance-abuse disorder, while approximately 30 to 50 percent of people with an addiction also have a co-occurring mental illness.

What Are the Symptoms of a Dual Diagnosis? 
The following questions may assist you in determining whether or not you have a dual diagnosis. Individuals who answer yes to more than one or two of the questions from each section are very likely to have a co-occurring disorder.

Section 1:

• Are there periods of time when your mind seems to race and you can’t seem to shut off your thoughts?
• Are there times when it seems as though others are watching you or reading your mind?
• Do you have periods of time when nothing seems to alleviate your feelings of sadness or worry? Do these feelings seem to take over your life?
• Do you have recurring thoughts of death or suicide?
• Do you hear voices?
• Have you ever been too scared to leave your house?

Section 2:

• Are you worried that your drinking or drug usage is getting out of control?
• Do you find yourself using alcohol and/or other drugs to escape from your feelings?
• Do you use drugs or alcohol to help you socialize?
• Do you want to stop using but are afraid of the feelings?
• When you feel depressed or nervous, do drugs and/or alcohol alleviate the feelings and temporarily make you feel better?

What Causes Dual Diagnosis?  
The specific causes of dual diagnosis are not fully understood. However, family history, genetics, brain chemistry and environmental factors all appear to play important roles in the development of both psychiatric illness and chemical dependency.

How Is Dual Diagnosis Treated?  
The most successful treatment programs equally consider the psychiatric illness as well as concurrent substance abuse or dependence disorder. At Sharp, our program is designed to treat them simultaneously. An integrated group approach is used to assist patients in developing skills for coping with symptoms and preventing relapse. Group topics include: cognitive therapy, symptom management, medication education, illness education, relapse prevention, recovery living skills, expressive therapy, life skills, assertiveness training, cognitive education, goal setting and Dual Recovery Anonymous™ meetings. The groups are designed to help patients build a repertoire of healthy and sober methods to cope with feelings and stress. During treatment, abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is highly encouraged.

For More Information
To learn more about Sharp's mental health services or to find a Sharp-affiliated doctor, search for a San Diego psychiatrist or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. To find general information about mental health, visit Mental Health Disorders in Adult Health or read the Mental Health News archive.