What is dual diagnosis?

The comorbid condition wherein an individual suffers from a psychological illness and a substance addiction is referred to as dual diagnosis.  Because the terminology is used so broadly to describe the co-existence of a mental disorder in conjunction with substance abuse, there is oftentimes considerable debate regarding the appropriateness of its use.  For instance, it can refer to the existence of alcoholism and depression or be applied to psychosis or schizophrenia and substance abuse.

Primary concerns or precautions

One matter of extreme importance where any Florida dual diagnosis drug rehab program is concerned is the determination of the individual’s personality type in order to conduct a proper diagnosis.  If a certain susceptibility to personality disorders is found to exist, it has to be addressed because it will have a significant impact on the type of drug rehab program that is selected for the addiction treatment and recovery process.  The type of program that is chosen will be different from one that is solely chosen to treat alcohol and drug abuse.

Another critical factor is correctly diagnosing the co-existing addiction and mental disorder.  If the individual who is being diagnosed is susceptible to or has experienced a brain dysfunction such as a personality disorder, the type of Florida dual diagnosis drug rehab could have serious consequences.  Should the person have experienced acute depression in the past or is susceptible to it, the proper treatment would not involve medications that produce depression as a potential side effect.  The client could become severely suicidal.

Additionally, if the individual has been diagnosed as a schizophrenic, then a Florida dual diagnosis drug rehab program that involves medications that produce confusion would not be suitable.  Ignoring or missing dual diagnosis could have extremely severe repercussions for the individual.  Prescribing the wrong drugs for the substance addiction treatment and recovery process could result in any of the following maladies:

• emotional or mental breakdowns
• return of a previous mental disorder, sometimes with a vengeance
• triggering of a psychotic episode

The health of the individual could be permanently impaired and in some cases, they could even die as a result of a mis-diagnosis.

The Delray Recovery Center can help with dual diagnosis

Our addiction treatment and recovery center offers Florida dual diagnosis drug rehab programs that can be customized to your personal needs if the condition exists.  A basic assessment interview will help us determine the right program to prescribe so that once you leave our facility, you will remain substance-free for life.  We are here to help you or a loved one that is suffering with any dual diagnosis condition.