People living with addiction often turn to substances to try to numb their feelings or cope with internal pain. On the other hand, the chemical changes to the brain brought on by substance abuse can lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. When someone receives a dual diagnosis—mental health and addiction conditions co-occurring—integrated treatment can help them recover.
At Promises Dallas-Fort Worth in Lewisville, Texas, adults with co-occurring disorders receive integrated care that treats mental health and substance use together, including medical detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization and virtual intensive outpatient care. Call (469) 546-9303 to talk with our admissions team about options for yourself or a loved one.
What Is Dual Diagnosis or Co-Occurring Disorders?
Dual diagnosis simply means two diagnoses—one for a mental health condition and one for substance use disorder. Family members are often surprised to hear that their loved one has a dual diagnosis. You might know there’s a problem with substance use but have no idea that their mental health is also a concern.
The opposite is often true; you might suspect that your loved one is struggling with mental health but not realize that they’re using substances as a coping mechanism. It’s important to seek out treatment so that an experienced professional can get to the bottom of your teen’s challenges and identify the right type of treatment.
Steps in Co-Occurring Diagnosis Treatment
The process of treating co-occurring disorders is fairly similar to treating substance use or mental health concerns in isolation. Dual diagnosis treatment follows a predictable pattern, beginning with evaluation and ending with aftercare.
1. Evaluation
Treating mental and behavioral health concerns starts with an evaluation. During the evaluation, your loved one will be asked a series of questions, and you may be asked for input if you helped them get to treatment. These questions are designed to evaluate the specific mental health conditions an individual is struggling with. If substance use is also an issue, the client will likely be given a dual diagnosis.
2. Starting a Program
A treatment team’s job during evaluation is to identify both the concerns and the best treatment approach. If substance use or mental health concerns are severe, your loved one might be referred to a residential program. However, many clients are best suited to outpatient dual diagnosis treatment.
The most common forms of outpatient treatment are partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs. PHP is often the starting point, during which a client attends a day program and returns home each evening.
Once a PHP treatment course ends, they’ll transition to IOP. An IOP usually involves treatment for a few hours a day, with sessions being held a few times a week.
3. Attending Therapy
As your loved one moves through the different stages of treatment, they’ll participate in a variety of different therapies. Treatment for dual diagnosis conditions involves receiving simultaneous support for both substance use and mental health conditions.
Co-occurring diagnosis treatment might consist of therapies such as:
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Holistic therapy
- Relapse prevention
Additional therapies will likely depend on the issues your loved one is facing. They might participate in additional therapies designed to address specific mental health concerns.
4. Participating in Aftercare
The conditions at the center of a dual diagnosis don’t disappear overnight. Both you and your loved one will receive recommendations for maintaining recovery once treatment ends. Many treatment centers offer aftercare groups for ongoing support once a formal program ends.
Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders at Promises Dallas-Fort Worth
Promises Dallas-Fort Worth provides integrated dual diagnosis care across medical detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization and virtual intensive outpatient care for adults at our Joint Commission-accredited center in Lewisville, Texas. Learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment, or let our admissions team verify your insurance before you commit. Call (469) 546-9303 or contact us online to get started.