Treatment for Dual Diagnosis

An additional psychological disorder in many cases co-exists with addiction. These afflictions
are labeled as a dual diagnosis. A person may be addicted to methamphetamines and have significant depression, or we may have a bi-polar mood disorder coupled with another drug or alcohol addiction. Some of these cases need only to apply drug recovery principles and our co-existing problem (most all 'mood disorders) will eliminate itself when maturity and a secure length of sobriety has resulted.

Pathologies and Addiction Inflicted
There are pathologies that are chemical and neurological, or developmental, or the result of an
earlier trauma. Dual diagnosis also include inner conflicts developed in the past, or developed
as a result of active addiction or alcoholism. Some dual diagnoses are more severe and a person may have a long history of psychiatric treatment, medications, and even institutionalization.

Dual diagnosis ranges from mild mood disorders to extreme dysfunction. The different categories may include:

Eating disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar, attention deficit disorder, rapid
cycling, and more. Some require medications, some require long-term sobriety.

A large percent of people in treatment today displayed symptoms of mood disorder while they were drug addicted. It turns out, however, that instead of psychiatric services, and medications, all they really needed is total abstinence from illegal drugs, personal growth, personal success, and a direction in life that makes them happy. In other cases, we find severe cases of mental and emotional states that require psychiatric assessment and medication to achieve 'balance.' Once the proper medication is discovered, these people respond very well to addiction treatment just like anyone else.

Historically, people with dual problems have not done well in drug rehab treatment until recently. Before these co-existing disorders were truly understood, treatment centers commonly made the mistake of a misdiagnosis and either over managed the psychiatric approach to the exclusion of the recovery approach; or, the reverse was true. Treatment centers would ignore the symptoms of a co-existing disorder and rationalize, "sobriety will take care of it all." This is simply not the case. Treating a dual diagnostic client is not that simple. CTC incorporates a holistic drug treatment philosophy and incorporates psychiatric services when

A responsible treatment program must assess those with psychological conflicts thoroughly. At CTC, our counselors are experienced with any of the mood disorder afflictions, and make a recommendation for psychological counseling. If psychiatric services are needed, our drug treatment team psychiatrist assesses and evaluates the client extensively. Psychological history, medications, institutions, and personal history are taken into consideration, and required medications are prescribed.