Information In Dual Diagnosis Explained

When a person suffers from a mental illness and has a chemical drug addiction at the same time, or is chemically dependant on two different drugs, it is called dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis can also mean that the sufferer has a personality disorder along with a severe mental illness. Medical care is required immediately to those who are suffering from it.

Dual diagnosis can be any combination of they previously stated problems. Most of the suffering addicts are in treatment, but some are unable to due to being homeless, poor, or being held in prison. When this happens the suffering may never be able to end their case of dual diagnosis.

There are several classifications of dual diagnosis. These are MICAA, MISA, MIDAA, CAMI, and CAMI with substance induced psychotic episodes. Each of these acronyms classifies a different combination of illnesses and addictions. Some of them are purely addictions; others are combinations of dual diagnosis disorders.

MICAA are those who are mentally challenged and are chemical drug users that have become addicted. This classification of dual diagnosis can not contain those that suffer from a severe mental illness. When a person is simply mentally ill and are not addicted to a drug but are chemical users they fall under MISA. MIDAA have no forms of mental illness but may have an addiction to a chemical drug as well as suffering from alcoholism. The form of dual diagnosis known as SAMI consists of those who continually use drugs, but are not physically addicted and have a mental illness. This does not consist of those with personality disorders.

Discovering dual diagnosis with mentally ill sufferers can be very difficult for the people around them. This is because when a mentally challenged individual is taking drugs they may act similar to as they do when having a bad outburst. It is also difficult for them to find treatment, because most treatment facilities will not know how to deal with a mentally challenged patient. The facility may know how to treat the drug problem but not how to take care of their other special needs.

These problems should be dealt with immediately by those who are professionally trained to work with them. They can better understand the needs of the patients and what is best for them. They can walk them through the process of getting clean and starting there life over again after treatment is finished.

The process in which a patient with dual diagnosis must go through before they can be considered rid of the illness. First is detoxification, in which the patient goes the process of having all of the drug related chemicals removed from their body. This can take up to seven days and cause several symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, headache and sweating, along with many other unpleasant symptoms.

Long term residential programs are set up to care for dual diagnosis sufferers. These centers will keep the patients until they are ready to re-enter society. They are prepared to help the patients with each of their unique needs.

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