More Information on Dual Diagnosis

“Do I drink because I’m depressed or am I depressed because I drink?” This important question lies at the heart of dual diagnosis and emphasises the need for careful medical and psychological assessment.

Almost all substances of abuse are psycho mimetic; that is they imitate exactly the signs and symptoms of other psychiatric disorders.

Unless this fact is taken into account, it can lead to serious confusion and misdiagnosis. For example, an individual may suffer with concurrent depression and alcohol dependence, this factor may be overlooked and the depression discounted because of the alcoholism.

Some people resort to self-medicating through drugs but the condition they are medicating goes undiagnosed. This is common with people suffering from mood disorders such as depression and bi poloar disorders, anxiety disorders and OCD as well as some personality disorders.

Sometimes the reverse is the case. A person may be treated with medication for a mental health condition, when the condition is actually a symptom of alcohol dependence.

On admission to Life Works, each client will receive a thorough and detailed medical, psychiatric, and therapeutic assessment which then becomes the foundation of their individual and personalised treatment plan.

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Co-Occurring Disorders

More Information on Dual Diagnosis