Intensive outpatient treatment, or IOP, can be an incredibly powerful way to address mental health and substance abuse issues, either separately or at once. When both mental health and substance issues are combined, this is known as dual diagnosis treatment. Dual diagnosis IOP offers a flexible, comprehensive approach to treatment that can help you take control of your mental health and addiction recovery. It’s perhaps the best way to help people looking to address co-occurring disorders get the care they need.
What is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis refers to people who have co-occurring disorders of serious mental illness and addiction. For instance, if someone is severely depressed and drinks alcohol, both of these are co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis is, unfortunately, quite common today, with an estimated 21.5 million adults in the U.S. diagnosed with co-occurring disorders.
It’s important to understand that one disorder might not necessarily come first. For instance, someone with anxiety might use alcohol or opioids to self-soothe. Or, someone with a substance use disorder might later develop a mental illness due to their drug or alcohol use.
Some of the many mental illnesses that could be part of a dual diagnosis include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Whether the mental illness or the substance use disorder came first remains irrelevant to treatment itself. Up until the 1980s, mental health and addiction were treated separately, with patients often bouncing between different providers for each condition. However, research has shown that treating both conditions simultaneously is more effective in promoting long-term recovery and reducing the risk of relapse.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment is Key During Recovery
Research has shown that people with both a serious mental illness and substance use disorder face more negative consequences due to their substance use than people with mental illness alone.
The negative effects of an untreated co-occurring disorder can include:
- Greater exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms
- Not taking medication
- Increased aggression and violent behavior
- Poor personal hygiene
- More visits to the emergency room
- More inpatient psychiatric stays
Getting comprehensive dual diagnosis IOP, inpatient, or outpatient treatment can prevent these negative effects and promote long-term recovery for both mental illness and substance use disorders. That’s because dual diagnosis treatment not only treats the substance use itself, but also the underlying mental health condition that may have contributed to the addiction.
Instead of waiting for someone to achieve sobriety first, or achieve total control over their mental health, the two conditions are treated simultaneously. The result is people getting help faster, when they need it, and before either their mental health or substance use spiral out of control.
Benefits of Dual Diagnosis IOP
Dual diagnosis intensive outpatient treatment is a great treatment option for those who have already detoxed, are looking to maintain sobriety, or have a less severe addiction that doesn’t require inpatient treatment. Some of the benefits of dual diagnosis IOP include the following.
Flexibility
By far the greatest advantage of dual diagnosis IOP is its flexibility. You can continue to live in sober living or at home while attending treatment. In addition, IOP can be delivered during day or evening hours, allowing people with co-occurring disorders to continue to attend work, school, or handle any other commitments along with addiction treatment.
Effectiveness
Research shows that for most people, IOP can be just as effective as inpatient treatment in maintaining sobriety. This is good news for those who have struggled with prior relapses or those looking for an extra layer of support in their recovery journey.
Dual Focus
Dual diagnosis IOP addresses both mental health and substance use disorders simultaneously, helping individuals to understand how the two are interconnected and how one may influence the other. By focusing on both issues at the same time, patients can develop a stronger understanding of themselves and learn effective strategies for managing their symptoms and triggers.
What Does Dual Diagnosis IOP Look Like?
During dual diagnosis IOP, clients will be given treatment that is tailored to their specific mental illness. For instance, someone with depression might benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, while someone with severe self-harm and borderline personality disorder might benefit from dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT.
There are many different therapy options for people enrolled in dual-diagnosis IOP treatment, including:
- CBT
- DBT
- Individual talk therapy
- Support groups
- Family therapy
- Medication management
- Holistic therapies such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy
The goal of dual diagnosis IOP is to provide patients with a well-rounded approach to managing both their mental illness and substance use disorder. This includes addressing underlying issues that may have contributed to the development of these co-occurring disorders, as well as teaching coping skills and relapse prevention techniques.
Find Balance With Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Today
At Atlanta Recovery Place, we’re proud to offer a dual diagnosis intensive outpatient program that is tailored to each individual’s unique mental health and addiction treatment needs. Our team of experienced professionals has over 40 years of combined experience in substance abuse and mental health treatment. We’re on a mission to provide high-quality dual-diagnosis IOP in Atlanta and the surrounding areas. Our goal is to help you achieve lasting recovery through our outpatient, intensive outpatient, and sober living options. Call us today to set up a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you find balance in your recovery journey.
