The co-occurrence of mental illness and substance abuse problem is called dual diagnosis. A wide series of psychosocial issues and several interacting illnesses can be experienced by an individual who has dual diagnosis.When one faces dual diagnosis, the physical, social, spiritual, and psychological aspect of the person will be affected. It should be taken into account that an individual who has dual diagnosis doesn’t have two separate illnesses. There is an interaction of these two illnesses. There is a big tendency for the illnesses to intensify and every disorder is inclined to relapse to the other one. One of the problems of dual diagnosis is the overlapping and the masking of the symptom’s illnesses because it proves difficult for treatment.
Dual diagnosis can be explained in many ways. One of them is the causality theory. Causality theory proposes that there are variety of substance abuse that leads to having mental illnesses. The proofs of the connections on the use of marijuana and the developing of psychosis is an example. Another theory is the multiple risk factor theory. Multiple risk factor theory explains that there are dangerous factors that direct to having dual diagnosis. Examples of these hazardous factors are link with people who utilizes drugs, people who are lonely and in poverty. There is also an additional theory known as the super sensitivity theory. It explains that there are individuals with severe mental illness who has vulnerabilities either psychological or biological. One’s genes and environment can caused this vulnerability. These vulnerabilities can result in getting a psychiatric disorder. This attempts to explain dual diagnosis in terms of treating the psychotic disorder using anti-psychotic drugs. In the long run, the body creates tolerance from the drug. Dual diagnosis is settling in.
Dual diagnosis poses many problems. In most cases, only one illness is being identified which can result to the lack of treatment being given to the patient. The defiance which is almost always there in different cases is also a problem. These build therapists and psychiatrists to have a tough time recognizing dual diagnosis and make them suggest treatments that would only offer a little help.
Proper treatments for this kind of condition are quite a problem. A person with dual diagnosis would find it hard to locate a treatment center that would help his or her condition recover. A treatment center that addresses to the problem of substance abuse refuses to accept someone with severe mental conditions. On the other hand, a treatment center that helps for the recovery of people with serious mental conditions is not skilled in dealing with people who is afflicted with substance abuse. This really is such a big deal.
The only thing that exists for treatment of individuals with dual diagnosis is by principles. Specialist suggests that the treating of the two co-occurring disorders should not be taken apart but rather should be joined together. There are prescriptions that have been proven to be effective. Examples of these medications are opioid replacement therapies or naltrexone) and clozapine.
Dual diagnosis is a term that can refer to different co-occurring illnesses. One can be depressed and alcoholic, psychotic and cannabis abuser, or can have intellectual disability while at the same time having a mental illness. In the field of psychology, dual diagnosis is quite new which explains the fact of its problems regarding treatment. As day to day progresses, who knows a treatment center might open for the special cases of persons with dual diagnosis.
Dual Diagnosis poses a great problem because there are no treatment centers available to help people recover.