Dual Diagnosis & Recovery

Dual diagnosis is the term used for individuals who suffer from a mental illness in addition to having a chemical substance addiction. It became a specific condition due to the realization that substance abuse intervention or psychiatric intervention when performed as the sole treatment mode seemed to be ineffective with certain people. For recovery to have a chance, both facets of the illness need to be treated.

Professionals Involved in Treatment

• If you are an Individual with dual diagnosis, it would benefit you to have care from many different disciplines. Substance abuse professionals are necessary, but they need to be well-versed in working with this condition. There should be a leader on your treatment team, usually a primary therapist or case manager, as well as a medication provider (psychiatrist or nurse practitioner). Adjunct therapists dealing with vocational and living skills education also have been found to be very helpful.

Benefits of a Team Approach

• The benefits of the multidisciplinary team in your recovery (or that of someone you care for) cannot be overstated. It provides a support network of professionals and a multipronged approach that addresses mental and physical issues. You also may receive assistance in obtaining medical, housing and funding services, as it sometimes is difficult for someone struggling with this illness to deal with these systems effectively.

Groups

• Group therapy is vital to recovery. Groups offer support, accountability and feedback. Some of the types of groups are substance abuse education, relapse prevention, living skills education and practice, medication education and health information.

Setting Goals

• Working with someone with this illness, or dealing with it if you yourself suffer from it, is difficult and can be frustrating. If the goal is abstinence from drugs and stability in mental illness, remember it may take time. When creating a plan, very basic and short-term goals should be the proposed outcomes. These should be regularly evaluated and assessed for progress and/or obstacles to progress.

Warning

• Helping someone with dual diagnosis move toward recovery can be rewarding. It also can be heartbreaking and lead to burnout. That is why it is important for people who work with or love those with this condition to make sure they practice self-care. The caregiver will be much more effective if she is not overwhelmed and run down. If you struggle with this condition, remember to allow your caregivers time for themselves so they can be there for you in the future.