Understanding Co-occurring Disorders & Effective Treatment Options

Popular Mental Health & Addiction Co Occurring Defintions

Co-occurring Disorders Statistics

7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. While this does not mean that one caused the other, it can be difficult to figure out which condition was first. Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, about 38% also had mental health illnesses. Source: NIH. Comorbidity: Substance Use and Other Mental Health Disorders – nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/comorbidity-substance-use-other-mental-disorders.

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Symptoms Of Co-occurring Disorders

People diagnosed with a substance use disorder can experience many associated symptoms or direct symptoms of co-occurring disorders. It’s important to remember that co-occurring disorders are common in these individuals and sometimes complicate their diagnosis. Often, substance use disorder and mental condition go hand in hand. Specialists can diagnose each disorder separately, but a person can struggle with both at the same time, as well. When this occurs, the symptoms of co-occurring disorders may intensify.

The symptoms of co-occurring disorders include those associated with the particular substance use problem and mental health condition affecting an individual. People with co-occurring disorders are at high risk for additional problems such as symptomatic relapses, hospitalizations, financial challenges, social isolation, family problems, homelessness, sexual and physical victimization, incarceration, and serious medical illnesses.

Signs Of Co-occurring Disorders

Indications for co-occurring disorders will change depending on which mental health disorders are analyzed and treatment options. For example, if your loved one is battling substance abuse and schizophrenia, the symptoms of these problems will never be the same for a patient living with meth addiction and bipolar disorder. In general, people living with co-occurring disorders find that working daily has become a major problem – if at all possible.

Signs of Co-Occurring Disorders may include:

The Connection Between Co-Occurring Addiction And Mental Health Disorders

Depression

In many cases, people abuse substances to feel joy or pleasure, even if artificially, even if they need to become numb to their emotional pain. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses across the globe, affecting millions of people worldwide. But substance-induced depression, also recognized as drug-induced happiness, also happens with alcohol and other drugs after the first elation has worn off. Substance abuse then increases, as the individual desires both euphoria and to avoid contradictory emotions. A bad series thus occurs where depression intensifies dependence and vice versa.

Many individuals who struggle with depression, especially people who have not been properly diagnosed, usually turn to alcohol to escape. Hopeless and desperate to feel better or anesthetize the pain, even for a small amount of time. Individuals who suffer from depression often use the numbing and pleasurable effects of alcohol for that purpose. Alcohol abuse is prevalent among people who suffer from depression. Drinking alcohol may increase depression, anxiety, and other mental health condition [3]. 

Anxiety

Many individuals with anxiety and mental illness turn to substance abuse for relief or to ease the burden every day. There are many types of anxiety and it is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders. In social situations, drinking can reduce anxiety, and prescription drugs can take away anxiety. As anxiety and mental illness sufferers consume substances to cope with their anxiety symptoms, their dependency on those substances increases, making them more vulnerable to addiction and making their anxiety worse.

The co-occurrence of alcohol and anxiety disorders is relatively common. The research found that 20% of those with social anxiety have an alcohol misuse problem. Alcohol is considered a CNS depressant, which slows down neural activity and brain functioning. Alcohol does this by enhancing the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). If someone consumes too much alcohol too fast, they can depress the central nervous system to the point of coma, respiratory failure, or death.

Co-Occurring Anxiety Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Individuals with PTSD experience conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD more frequently than individuals who do not. Many veterans return from war with PTSD from their traumatizing combat experiences. The development of PTSD may be accompanied by psychological, physical, or sexual abuse. 

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that can distort a person’s perception of reality. People with this mental condition typically experience psychosis, visual or auditory hallucinations, delusions, and distorted thought patterns. This severe mental health condition can hinder a person’s ability to form coherent thoughts, regulate their emotions properly, and relate to other people.

The disturbing experiences caused by schizophrenia can put a person in significant distress. As a result, some people with schizophrenia seek refuge in alcohol or drugs to manage their symptoms. However, substance use often exacerbates the symptoms of schizophrenia, which can prevent someone from receiving the help that they need.

The Connection Between Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder And Schizophrenia

Borderline Personality Disease

BPD is a mood disorder characterized by sudden mood swings, extreme temperamental restlessness, unpredictable behavior, scattered thoughts of self, others, and the environment, and trouble forming steady connections. Around 6% of adults in America suffer from this disorder. People who suffer from these symptoms often abuse drugs and alcohol to adapt to “controllable” symptoms. This temporary relief is usually short-lived, and can sometimes aggravate symptoms of mental illness. What causes BPD? There’s no single cause of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and it’s possible to be caused by a variety of factors such as genetics, brain chemicals, brain development, and environmental factors. 

Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings. A person who suffers from bipolar disorder oscillates between emotional highs, also known as manic episodes, and emotional lows, also known as depressive episodes. The key difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder is that people with bipolar disorder experience uncharacteristic highs (mania) or lows (depression). Those with borderline personality disorder (BPD) typically have extremely unstable emotions- swinging from intense idealization of others to devaluation and anger.

Symptoms of a manic episode include high energy levels, a decreased need for sleep, risk-taking behavior, and an increased desire for sex. Depressive episodes, on the other hand, are marked by reduced energy, a lack of motivation, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

Individuals with bipolar disorder are more likely to self-medicate. Many begin using substances to reduce the severity of manic and depressive episodes. However, this strategy tends to have the opposite effect, causing users to suffer more intense episodes as a result of substance use.

10 Common Co-occurring Disorders FAQs

Alcoholism As A Mental Health Disease

Is alcoholism a mental health disease? The answer is yes. Alcoholism involves a physical addiction, but it also interferes with the individual’s mental state to such an extent that they may struggle to interact normally with their environment, so it is for this reason that it is referred to as a mental health problem or a mental health disease. Along with physical dependence, the person also has psychological dependence, which means that they experience cravings and just cannot cope without alcohol. The need to continue with the behavior involves a mental compulsion, and it involves denial.

Considered a brain disorder, alcoholism can be mild, moderate, or severe. However, lasting changes in the brain caused by alcohol misuse leads to alcoholism and make individuals vulnerable to relapse. The good news is that no matter how alcoholism may seem, evidence-based treatment with mutual-support groups, behavioral therapies, or medications-assisted treatment (MAT) can help individuals with alcoholism maintain and achieve recovery. According to a national survey, 14.1 million adults ages 18 and older1 (5.6 percent of this age group) had alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2019. 

Co-occurring Disorders Diagnosis And Treatment

In general, it is preferable to treat the co-occurring mental health disorders and SUD jointly rather than singly. As a result, anyone seeking co-occurring disorder treatment for a SUD or other mental health disorders must have each disorder evaluated by a healthcare professional in any co occurring disorders treatment centers. The use of comprehensive assessment tools by the provider can lessen the likelihood of a missed diagnosis and enable targeted treatment because it can be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis due to overlapping symptoms.

Additionally, it is crucial that the individual’s age, the substance being misused, the specific mental health disease, and behavioral therapies and pharmaceuticals be matched to their unique combination of problems and symptoms. Determine the best course of treatment for you by speaking with your healthcare professional from a co-occurring disorders treatment facilities, then give it time to take effect.

Integrated Treatment

Co Occurring Disorders Behavioral Therapies

Numerous behavioral therapies have been identified by research as promising for the treatment of people with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral therapy may be advised by medical professionals either alone or in conjunction with medicines.

The following are a few instances of effective behavioral therapy for persons with SUDs and various co-occurring mental health disorders:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT employs the ideas of acceptance and mindfulness, or paying attention to and being aware of one’s current situation and emotional condition. DBT also offers techniques that can help manage strong emotions, lessen suicidal thoughts, urges, self-harm, and drug use, and enhance interpersonal connections.
• Therapeutic Communities (TC): TCs are a typical type of long-term residential treatment that emphasizes assisting patients in forming fresh, more positive ideals, attitudes, and behaviors.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): By challenging irrational thinking and altering actions, CBT is a sort of talk therapy designed to assist people to learn how to deal with stressful situations.
• Contingency Management (CM): By providing incentives or rewards for desired behaviors, CM principles promote healthy behavior.
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT): This type of community-based mental health care places a strong emphasis on community outreach and tailored treatment plans.

Co-occurring Disorders Behavioral Therapies for Children and Adolescents

Effective behavioral therapies for kids and teenagers include:

• Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT): To simultaneously treat several interrelated teenage problem behaviors, including substance abuse, mental illnesses, behavioral issues at school, delinquency, and others, MDFT works with the entire family.
• Multisystemic Therapy (MST): MST focuses on important elements linked to severe antisocial behavior in kids and teens with SUDs.
• Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT): Family interactions that are thought to perpetuate or exacerbate adolescent SUDs and other co-occurring problem behaviors are the focus of BSFT therapy.

Co-occurring Disorders Medications

Effective drugs are available to treat alcohol, nicotine, and opiate addiction, as well as to diminish the symptoms of numerous other mental illnesses. Several conditions may benefit from the usage of certain drugs as treatment of co occurring disorders.

Co-occurring Disorders Treatment

To provide proper co occurring disorders treatment, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends an integrated treatment approach. Integrated treatment involves coordinating substance abuse and mental health interventions rather than treating each disorder separately without consideration for the other.