Complex issues of dual diagnosis

This from Dual diagnosis Website:

Dual diagnosis refers to Co-occuring Disorders of Mental Health disorders and Substance Abuse disorders (alcohol and/or drug dependence or abuse).

Dual Diagnosis, and Dual/Multiple disorders profiles may include the following:

1. Severe/major mental illness and a substance disorder(s)
2. Substance disorder(s) and a personality disorder(s)
3. Substance disorder(s), personality disorder(s) and substance induced acute symptoms that may require psychiatric care, i.e., hallucinations, depression, and other symptoms resulting from substance abuse or withdrawal.
4. Substance abuse, mental illness, and organic syndromes in various combinations. Organic syndromes may be a result of substance abuse, or independent of substance abuse.

Persons are found across the mental health and substance abuse systems who have various combinations of these dual/multiple disorders.  They are also found outside of these systems of care, often among the homeless, and within the criminal justice system.”

We present one of the biggest challenges to frontline mental health services, which makes diagnosis, care and treatment more difficult. We are at higher risk of relapse, readmission to hospital and suicide. One of the main difficulties is the number of agencies involved, and an apparent willingness to ‘pass the buck’, as we are so damned difficult to treat.

We are often passed from specialist rehabilitation services to mental health services, and organisations in the statutory and voluntary sector. As a result care can be fragmented and people can fall down the cracks.

Despite (or perhaps because of!!) my addiction issues, I have never been considered ill enough to require proper psychiatric support. I’ve been passed from drug workers to GP’s and very occasionally, to psychiatrists, and, like many in my situation I have wasted many years in prison.

I am also ‘diagnosed’ with chronic anxiety and social phobia, and according to a report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association:

Thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and fifty-three percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness. Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs.

The following psychiatric problems are common to occur in dual diagnosis – i.e., in tandem with alcohol or drug dependency.

• Depressive disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder.
• Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.
• Other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and personality disorders.

One clear, common factor that can help dual diagnostic sufferers, and every other individual in our modern society, is to show one another, and ourselves, a great deal more compassion, alongside a holistic approach to well-being, on a communal and personal level.

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