Diagnosing Addiction and Co-occurring Disorders

When a person sees a doctor, psychiatrist, or other treatment professional asking for help for suspected substance abuse, the first step for the treatment professional is to perform an assessment and diagnosis. Through interviewing the person and making educated observations based on the professional’s expertise, including, if possible, talking to other family members, the professional assembles information on the person’s behavior, attitudes, and symptoms, and compares them with the standard manual used for diagnosing mental health disorders.

By comparing the information gained from screening the person to the symptoms listed in the manual, the professional can begin to determine whether or not the person actually has a substance use disorder and whether there are also any co-occurring disorders. By performing integrated screening, which looks specifically for co-occurring disorders, the professional can make a more precise diagnosis.

Sometimes, the symptoms of a mental health disorder underlying substance abuse may not be attributed to an independent, co-occurring disorder. Substance abuse symptoms can manifest in ways that are similar to symptoms of other mental health disorders, making it seem that there is another issue co-occurring. However, later it turns out that the symptoms were a result of the substance abuse to begin with.

An example of this is when a person who is struggling with alcohol abuse presents symptoms of depression, which is a common occurrence; the rate of alcohol use disorders is as high as 40 percent among people who have a lifetime history of major depression. However, because the symptoms of alcoholism sometimes include depression, it can be hard to tell whether depression of some kind exists separately. A way to determine this can be through the screening process. If the symptoms of depression came before the alcoholism started, it is most likely a separate disorder. On the other hand, if the alcoholism is treated and the symptoms of depression begin to resolve, the depression may instead be a result of the substance abuse.

Why Choose Us

In choosing to come to Aarambh Treatment Center to overcome an addiction, you can be sure that your recovery experience is well-rounded and comprehensive. We implement only the most effective and progressive methods of care to help you both reach and exceed your recovery goals while at our center. Our staff goes above and beyond to make sure that each one of your treatment needs are met, and the customized plan of care that we create for you can be revised to reflect any new or evolving needs that become apparent while you work on developing a healthy and sober lifestyle.