What is Dual Diagnosis?
The term dual diagnosis refers to a person suffering from more than one medical condition at a time. In connection with treatment for addiction to drugs and alcohol this can mean one of 3 things.
- The person has a substance dependency and a mental health condition
- The person has a substance dependency and a physical health condition
- The person has a substance dependency and another addiction issue.
Recent research indicates that more than half of people addicted to drugs and alcohol also fit into one of the above categories. Dual diagnosis is sometimes referred to as ‘comorbidity’ or a ‘co-occurring disorder’.
Mental health disorders associated with dual diagnosis often include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Schizophrenia
Other addictions related to dual diagnosis frequently include:
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Co –dependency
- Eating Disorders
- Gambling Addiction
- Process Addiction
- Sex Addiction
This area of addiction treatment is highly specialised and requires expert diagnosis and treatment. In the most difficult cases people present with one or more mental health issues plus multiple addictions.
Accurate diagnosis is the key for clients to start successful long term recovery from this complex problem. This can be problematic for three main reasons.
- For some people their mental health condition is masked by their substance use.
- For some people their mental health issue is exacerbated by drugs and alcohol.
- Other people find that once they stop using and drinking the symptoms of their mental health issue vanish. This is because the negative effects of addiction commonly mimic the symptoms of disorders like depression, anxiety and psychosis.
All of these cases require an effective treatment program that balances the most successful elements of mental health care with proven drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Why Choose a Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centre?
A residential drug and alcohol rehab program is the best environment to treat people suffering from comorbidity. Trying to treat clients in their own homes presents a number of challenges.
- It is difficult to deliver real continuity of care when several support providers are involved and not coordinated properly.
- The effects of addiction, alcoholism and some mental health conditions mean some clients are unable to fully engage or even attend appointments.
Effective Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Seasons Bali
Seasons Bali believes in the provision of an integrated model of care that treats the whole person. Our expert team includes specialists that accurately diagnose and treat dual diagnosis patients. They identify the primary condition and deal with that first.
Wherever possible the Seasons Bali team works closely with a client’s diagnosing physician to formulate a personalised treatment plan. Our onsite clinical and medical teams consult with each other on a daily basis and are well aware these clients require extra supervision and support.
Clients with co-occurring disorders are more vulnerable to relapse or destructive behaviours such as self-harm and suicide. Members of our well trained team supervise the community 24 hours a day and are always attentive to those who require additional help.
The team at Seasons Bali has helped numerous people suffering from a variety of complex co-occurring disorders to achieve long term recovery. After treatment, our well connected international team can make referrals to the right care providers should continuing maintenance of a psychiatric condition be required.
We highly recommend that people with dual diagnosis attend the Primary Program for the full 90 days. This gives time for both conditions to stabilise and to be addressed. Seasons Bali also offers 28 and 60 day treatment programs.
