Treating Concurrent Disorders Essay

Co-occurring disorders can be difficult to treat due to the complexity of symptoms. Both the mental health and substance abuse disorders have biological, psychological, and social components assessed throughout the treatment process. Co-occurring disorder individuals battle to maintain their sobriety as they need to find services for both mental health and support groups catering to their unique needs.

The Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute (2002) states that substance abuse can occur in many clients who also have anxiety/stress disorders. The user believes that using alcohol or drugs will help lessen the feelings they have and somehow enable them to “cope” (The Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, 2002). Unfortunately, most users like James are unable to realize the substances are not helping their problems. Most people with alcohol and other drug use disorders who also suffer from other mental health disorders require an integrated care plan for the best chance at recovery (Sterling, Chi, & Hinman, 2011).

Co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders are quite prevalent in today’s society. Treatment and prevention of co-occurring disorders are both critical topics. Example of co-occurring disorders are the combinations of major depression with cocaine addiction, alcohol addiction with panic disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Although the focus of this is on dual disorders, some patients have more than two disorders. The principles that apply to dual disorders generally apply also to multiple disorders.

There is also research, which reveals that around 75% of those in programs for substance use disorder, also require treatment for co-occurring mental health disorder. Furthermore, individuals reporting mental health problems report a higher alcohol consumption rate at higher risk levels. Not only does this show a high rate of mental health and substance use co-inhabiting in massive numbers of patients, but also indicates that there is a need for not just treating substance use disorder but also treating mental health disorders as well. The co-occurrence of mental health and substance use is known commonly as Dual Diagnosis. It is estimated that dual diagnosis effects between 30% and 90% of those in substance use treatment (Crome, etc.

Compton, W.M., Conway, K.P., Stinson, F.S., Colliver, J.D., & Grant, B.F... (2012) Prevalence correlates, and comorbidity :Comorbidity addiction and other mental illness. National Institute on Drug Abuse.Choice Reviews Online. 20-24.

Co-occurring disorders are best treated by integrated care in which the primary physician, mental health providers as well as substance abuse professionals work simultaneously to treat the complex and varying needs of the patient (Stevens & Smith 2013). According to Cherokee Health (n.d.), blended behavioral care and primary clinical model providing real time help to patients who struggle with a substance use disorder and mental health problem can be as simple as having real time behavioral health and psychiatric consultation available to the primary care physician (Cherokee Health Systems Training, n.d.).

It now is by, and large recognized that these patients have needed to explore divided frameworks and that they have gotten treatment that is less open and less compelling than the medical services framework can convey. For quite some time the presence of a co-occurring disorder diagnosis has been ignored, overlooked or misdiagnosed, health care providers and policymakers now perceive that these conditions are prevalent and that the dominant part of patients with substance abuse issues doubtlessly has a co-occurring disorder.

The comorbidity of drug addiction and other mental disorders has been a primary research topic for decades in the psychology community. This trend is evident by the plethora of studies conducted regarding a variety of combinations of substance addictions and mental disorders. I believe that being able to find so many scholarly resources is extremely encouraging to novices in the field, such as myself, because it inspires them to learn more about and conduct more research on this topic.

The learning outcome I have chosen to focus on for this literature review is section 4.2, the reason I chose this learning outcome is because when people are not aware of the prevalence of concurrent disorders, they may not be at all drawn to assess them for it in the first place. Comorbidity is so common that concurrent disorders should be expected rather than considered an exception (Minkoff, 2014). The reason I have choose these specific articles, is because one shows the importance of using the most beneficial assessments, and the second one is why it is so important that a greater interest in the need for best practices at the system level (Minkoff, 2014)and is also shown in all aspects of treatment with concurrent disorders, at all levels including assessments.

According to the American Psychiatric Association chronic drug abuse may occur together with any mental illness that may include some of the following disorders. “Some common serious mental disorders associated with chronic drug abuse include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and antisocial personality disorder” (Center, 2004). Some of these disorders carry with them an increased risk of drug abuse. Another example of a drug that can cause a mental disorder, is MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) which is commonly known as ecstasy. It produces long term deficits in serotonin function in the brain, leading to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Comorbidity is the condition where one person has two or more disorders or illnesses simultaneously or sequentially. The term implies interactions between them, with one illness influencing the course and prognosis of the other(s).[endnoteRef:30] [30: National Institute of Drug Abuse, “Research Reports: Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses,” September 2010, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/comorbidity-addiction-other-mental-illnesses/what-comorbidity.]

Most interestingly participants appeared somewhat divided on whether these behaviours were as a result of the individuals substance usage or whether their usage simply exasperated their already held tendencies and/or behaviours. Participants who argued the later suggested that substance users who become addicted to their usage are often suffering from mental disorders.

Medications approved by the FDA for treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence, including acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone, methadone, and buprenorphine, have not been widely studied in the dually diagnosed population. Often, study participation criteria exclude individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness, and it is only in recent years that research specifically focused on this population has become more common.

Mental health disorders can severely and negatively impact drug addiction and make it more difficult to obtain a new sober lifestyle. One of the most devastating of these problems is schizoaffective disorder. This disorder creates an unstable lifestyle that often pushes people who suffer from it into a period of severe drug and alcohol abuse, and even addiction.

Mental illness is another major reason why individuals start using drugs and eventually become dependent. Chronic drug abuse may occur in concurrence with any mental illness identified in the American Psychiatric Association (DSMIV). Some common serious mental disorders associated with chronic substance abuse include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and generalized anxiety disorder (National Drug Intelligence Center). Some people may use drugs on a regular basis as ways to self- medicate themselves if they are dealing with any