Dual diagnosis is a medical term that describes when an individual suffers from an alcohol or drug addiction in addition to mental health difficulties such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, an eating disorder or a personality disorder.If you are suffering from addiction at the same time as experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, or eating disorders, contact us for specialised treatment.
There is a close relationship between addiction and psychological disorders, and often the two can develop simultaneously over a period of time.
While substance abuse can lead to mental health issues, the opposite can also be true, where drugs and alcohol are used in response to psychological problems e.g. in the case of Post Traumatic Stress disorder, where the person affected may ‘self-medicate’ with alcohol or drugs.
How We Treat Dual Diagnosis
There is no single treatment option for dual diagnosis as it is a complex condition and each case is unique. The addiction and the underlying mental health issues are best managed and treated at a residential rehab clinic, at the same time and in the same location. At Smarmore Castle, we offer a comprehensive care programme which treats both drug addiction and any related mental disorders.
Dual diagnosis must be treated on a case-by-case basis as each patient is different. We develop personalised treatment plans for every patient according to their individual needs. Due to the complex interaction between drug use and mental health, it is best to treat both problems within a residential rehabilitation programme.
Why Residential Rehabilitation is the Best Treatment
Co-occurring mental health and addiction problems should be treated simultaneously to give the patient the best chance of a full recovery. Dual diagnosis disorders are very complicated because drug and alcohol use can exacerbate psychological problems and produce unpredictable mental and physiological effects in the user.
It is because of the complexity of this disorder that residential rehabilitation is the best option to treat these patients. Patients can receive treatment for both addiction and mental health disorders at the same time. If the focus is solely on treating the addiction, the, untreated mental health issues make the patient vulnerable to relapse.
Outpatient and smaller clinics are often ill-equipped to treat these disorders and the patient may have to attend many different service providers to find the treatment they need. By contrast, Smarmore Castle offers a high-quality, comprehensive treatment programme located on one site.
Our Treatment Programme for Dual Diagnosis
At Smarmore Castle, our highly experienced, specialist team of Consultant Psychiatrists, doctors, nurses and therapists have an impressive track record when it comes to helping people recover from dual diagnosis.
Our treatment programme contains the following components:
- Medically managed detoxification
- Specialist therapies including individual and group therapy
- Complementary therapies
- Round the clock medical and psychiatric support
- Fitness programme
- Discharge planning
- Continuing care programme.
The length of the treatment varies between patients depending on their initial addiction diagnosis and their physical and mental condition as they progress through the programme.
Get Help for Dual Diagnosis
If you are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction at the same time as experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, OCD or eating disorders, get in touch with our admissions team for advice on your treatment options.