Dual Diagnosis in Georgetown, DE

Between half and three-quarters of all people battling addiction also suffer from an additional mental disorder. The occurrence of a psychiatric disorder alongside of addiction is so common, it makes sense to always test for one when there is an addiction. It is standard policy at our center for the treatment of a patient with a dual diagnosis in Georgetown.

Why Do Mental Disorders Require Simultaneous Treatment?

When you have a dual diagnosis, a mental disorder as well as an addiction, the two conditions often mutually reinforce one another. People who have mental disorders will often turn to substance abuse as a way to gain relief from the difficult mental lives that they live. Severe drug use, however, often has the effect of worsening the effects of mental disorders.

Even if you do find yourself more concerned about the addiction then the mental disorder, it's important to treat both together. Attempting to treat the addiction alone and leaving the mental disorder untouched will usually result in a poor outcome -- the tendency towards addiction will likely quickly return.

When you suffer from a dual diagnosis disorder, many rehabs will simply refuse to treat the addiction, because they do not have the expertise needed to deal with cases complicated by mental disorders. In some cases, they will attempt to treat, but fail.

Most psychiatrists refuse to treat psychiatric disorders complicated by addictions, as well. Since addictions and psychiatric disorders often present with the same symptoms -- depression, distressed logic, poor self-restraint and so -- they can find it challenging to come by a reliable diagnosis.

When these disorders appear together, as they often do, both rehabs and psychiatrists without specific training are simply unable to help. Only a dual diagnosis treatment center that is equipped with the right skills and infrastructure is able to make a difference.

Treating Dual Diagnosis Disorders

Many rehabs attempt to take an obsolete route to treat all diagnosis: they address each condition separately. Rather than collaborate to work out a treatment plan together, their addiction specialists and psychiatrists work independently of each other. The psychiatrist does not help with complications brought on by the addiction, and the addiction specialist takes a similar route.

Treating an addiction that appears alongside of a mental disorder can be problematic, because it can be hard to obtain adequate cooperation by the patient. Among various challenges, the patient may be unpredictable, and may cheat on his treatment.

It's important to have a psychiatrist on the team, one who has specific experience in dealing with addicts. It is only when such a psychiatrist offers preliminary treatment that symptoms settle down well enough for addiction treatment to begin.

Treatment in which psychiatrists and addiction specialists don't work together can also be a problem when dual diagnosis patients experience violent or suicidal tendencies. It takes the skill sets of both psychiatrists and addiction specialists to work with these challenges.

Finding the Right Dual Diagnosis Care

At our center for dual diagnosis in Georgetown, we are especially set up for integrated dual diagnosis care.

Integrated care: Psychiatrists and addiction specialists work together to set up personalized treatment programs in Georgetown for each patient, depending on their mental health and the state of their addiction.

Both kinds of expert work together throughout the process. For every challenge that turns up, it is the team that is responsible. There is greater success, and rarely is a need felt to pass on responsibility for problems or failures.

Inpatient care: The complicated needs of treatment for dual diagnosis requires the care level only available in inpatient care. Patients greatly benefit from the protective and controlled environment of rehab. Not only do they find it possible to stay away from temptation, they manage to find greater engagement in their treatment, as well. Patients also benefit from the greater access to medical care that they receive. As an example, a medical team that is ever-present is better able to alleviate symptoms as soon as they appear.

Aftercare: When both addiction treatment and our programs for relapse prevention in Georgetown conclude, patients tend to need assistance making their way back into the world. Dual diagnosis rehab centers offer patients access to psychiatric care and assistance as they transition to real life.

Dual diagnosis care is a field of considerable depth. Should you have a question about your condition or treatment, you only need to call us at our center for dual diagnosis in Georgetown. We can help you find answers if you call us at (877) 804-1531.