Dual Diagnosis Care

Specialists in substance abuse and intellectual ability status and mental health treatment work together to ensure all the client’s needs and underlying conditions are treated effectively.

Psychotherapy plays a key role in treating co-occurring disorders, but prescription medication may also be required.

Therapy that enables the client to make choices is the most reliable and widely used approach.

In the treatment process, all household members, including partners, spouses, children, and any other members of a household or household members should all be involved regardless of whether they receive individual treatment or take part in family meetings.

 

There is evidence that with help, people with a dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders can stabilize and recover. A large part of the treatment for dual diagnosis involves behavioral interventions. Types of behavioral therapy commonly used in dual diagnosis treatment include:

Dialectic behavioral therapy, which has the goal of reducing self-harming behaviors that often accompany mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

Integrated group therapy, which seeks to treat the symptoms of both substance use disorders and mental health illnesses all at once. For those with IDD, social skills and life skills training programs may also be needed.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, which works to minimize problematic beliefs and behaviors and develop healthier thinking and behavioral patterns to sustain effective treatment outcomes.

Individual psychotherapy, which treats behaviors related to IDD, substance abuse and/or particular behavioral or mental health problems.