Dual Diagnosis vs Co-Occurring Disorders

For various reasons, people can find themselves struggling with more than one mental health condition and/or substance abuse problems. As they can co-occur in different ways and be connected in various ways, the dual diagnosis vs co-occurring disorders debate started gaining attention from professionals. An important question became whether differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders impact the treatment process. 

We Level Up Treatment Centers experts will help you understand the differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders, as well as their impact on a person’s recovery. We will offer you some guidelines that can help you understand your or the mental conditions of your loved ones. Knowing the differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders alone is often not enough to fully understand yourself, so we urge you to seek professional help at We Level Up Treatment Centers when things become difficult.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

The term dual-diagnosis is used to describe a person who meets the criteria for diagnosing both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time. These disorders affect each other and can result in intertwined symptoms, making it difficult to establish a diagnosis easily. This specific and complex situation requires a holistic approach to analysis and treatment. 

There is no rule about which mental health conditions can co-occur, but some are more frequent than others. On one end, there is always substance abuse (alcohol and/or drug addiction) and, on the other, another form of mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, etc. A concrete example of dual diagnosis would be someone who has bipolar and addiction, someone who has an addiction to narcotics and who also struggles with schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder, or someone who is an alcoholic because of depression.

Though the disorders can exist separately from one another, when they coexist in the same person, they usually cause the symptoms of both disorders to be amplified. It is common for a person with co-occurring disorders to have more severe symptoms than a person with only one of the disorders. Someone struggling with co-occurring disorders requires treatments for both of them in dual diagnosis treatment centers.

The American Psychological Association (APA) shared an epidemiological study that came to the following conclusions:

• 2 to 5 of every 10 anxious or depressed people have some type of addiction.
• 4 to 8 out of every 10 people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or antisocial personality also have some type of addiction.

Most Common Co-occurring Disorders

There are several different mental health disorders that commonly co-occur with substance use disorders. The most common co-occurring disorders with substance abuse fall into five categories:

1. Mood disorders
2. Anxiety disorders
3. Psychotic disorders
4. Personality disorders
5. Eating disorders

While there are differences among them, many of them have similar attributes as to how they are diagnosed, what causes them to co-occur, and how the two disorders affect one another. Examples of co-occurring disorders include the following.

Dual Diagnosis vs Co-Occurring Disorders Debate

The definition of dual diagnosis mentions that this condition implies the co-occurrence of two mental disorders, which is why you might wonder what the differences are between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders. The key difference between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders is the nature of the diagnosis. Or, to put it simply, the difference is the link between the two co-occurring mental health conditions.

Differences Between Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Disorders

To further unravel the differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders, we ought to understand how these conditions come to be. Mental health disorders and substance use disorders often share causes and risk factors:

• Family history: Both mental disorders and substance use disorders can be affected by family history. The existence of these conditions in the family is linked to their occurrence in future generations, implying there might be a genetic factor to them. 
• Prenatal exposure: Prenatal exposure to certain drugs, toxins, and viruses is linked to both substance abuse and mental health disorders. 
• Gender: Men are said to be more likely to require treatment for a dual diagnosis. 

These factors explain the link between co-occurring conditions but are still insufficient to explain the differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders. For that, we should not just speak of the correlation but rather its direction and potential causality.

For a dual diagnosis, mental illness and substance abuse disorder are two (or more) completely separate diagnoses. This means that they can be, but need not be, each other’s causes. They can either share a cause or even happen for completely different reasons. They just exist simultaneously. 

As for the co-occurring conditions, they are typically each other’s causes, and the connection goes both ways. Mental illness can often lead an individual to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Although self-medicating may temporarily make the person feel better, it can also lead to substance abuse disorders as the person becomes unable to cope with mental health symptoms in healthier ways. On the other hand, the devastating effects and brain damage that come with addiction can result in the development of a mental illness. 

No matter the direction of causality and the differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders, mental health disorders and addiction are inevitably linked and must be treated together. We Level Up Treatment Centers can address both conditions, whether alone or co-occur.

Dual Diagnosis vs Co-Occurring Disorders: Treatment Process

Co-occurring disorder treatments are defined by the dual diagnosis of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder in the same person. In recent years, researchers on the challenge of dual diagnosis have found that integrated therapy is the best method for treating people with co-occurring disorders. 

The We Level Up dual diagnosis treatment centers provide comprehensive care consisting of both primary addiction disorder and secondary behavioral disorder treatment. Combining psychiatric and addiction treatment techniques can decrease relapses and reduce suicide attempts in rehab graduates, as well as promote long-term abstinence.

Irrelevant to the differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders, there are several factors that make it crucial to treat co-occurring mental health disorders and addictive disorders together:

• An integrated recovery plan aims to reduce the negative side effects of mental health disorders, including problems paying attention, feeling depressed, and aversion to socializing with others.
• You are more likely to be able to treat your substance abuse disorder and mental health dysfunction at the same time when pharmacological therapy addresses both disorders.
• Traditional concerns about psychotherapeutic medication use in co-occurring disorders are no longer a problem.
• Patients with co-occurring disorders who undergo group therapy help strengthen their support network. This training is also useful for combating problems such as substance misuse.
• Treating both addiction and mental disorders simultaneously reduces the chances of relapse, such as depression, mood swings, or panic strikes.

Best Practices for Dual Diagnosis and Co-occurring Disorders

There has been steady growth in the treatment of co-occurring disorders since the 1990s, and rates are expected to continue to rise as we move into the next decade. One of the pioneers of co-occurring disorders, Dr. Kenneth Minkoff, has written an article in Psychiatric Services containing standards of best practices, including the following:

• Rather than excluding co-occurring individuals because of their mental illness, welcome them into treatment.
• Provide equal attention and care during the rehabilitation process for addictive and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
• Both psychiatric and substance addiction disorders may seem to be temporary conditions, but they require long-term assistance.
• A treatment team with expertise in treating co-occurring disorders must work to ensure treatment is delivered.
• Provide treatment to clients who are suffering from psychiatric disorders early on, which will allow them to be treated more quickly.
• Whether the client is experiencing a mental health crisis or is acutely intoxicated, all clients should be treated with dignity and respect.

A co-occurring treatment program should address the needs of the mentally ill, including substance abuse treatment and addiction treatment. Therapy sessions and group therapy meetings should also address the needs of those who are mentally ill. 

Dual Diagnosis vs Co-Occurring Disorders: We Level Up Approach

All differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders aside, mental disorders and substance abuse disorders can and should be treated the same way they appear — simultaneously. We Level Up Treatment Centers rely on several equally efficient approaches (not minding the debate on dual diagnosis vs co-occurring disorders). 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach that aims to discover dysfunctional thinking patterns and maladaptive behaviors. Clients’ beliefs are challenged and disputed with the objective of establishing healthier patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. 
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another evidence-based approach. Its aim is to help a person establish a balance between acceptance and change. One of the main focuses is changing mindsets by teaching that a change does not need to be the opposite of the current state. 
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) refers to the use of FDA-approved medications to alleviate symptoms of substance use withdrawal but also to address acute mental states. Medicine should always be prescribed and monitored by licensed staff. 
• Group therapy: Sharing your struggles with those going through similar life challenges can foster acceptance and belonging. Group sessions offer a platform for sharing multiple perspectives and success stories to lift your spirits. 
• Family therapy: Involving families in the therapeutic process benefits all family members, not just the client. Family therapy sessions can reveal and address some underlying issues and empower families to be there for each other in the best way possible. 
• Holistic approaches: In addition to psychotherapy, alternative approaches (like mindfulness and yoga) have proven beneficial. These techniques help a person stay grounded and find peace within themselves, no matter the outside circumstances.

Relying on a holistic approach, meaning the implementation of both science-based and alternative approaches, helps We Level Up Centers treat a person as a whole. We help you heal the body, the mind, and the spirit, regardless of the differences between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders.

Seek Help

When it comes to seeking help, the dual diagnosis vs co-occurring disorders debate becomes insignificant. Whether you have co-occurring conditions or a dual diagnosis, seeing professional help is sure to help you regain control over your life and live to your full potential. We Level Up mental health and rehabilitation center can provide you or someone you love with professional and safe care.

Contact us to speak with one of our counselors and get the help you need. We can provide relevant information about this condition. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please know that each call is private and confidential, so don’t hesitate to reach out.