The Connection Between Mental Health and Addiction: Understanding Dual Diagnosis
Medically Reviewed by Mark Hrymoc, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, double-board certified in General & Addiction Psychiatry Addiction and mental health disorders are often intertwined, with each influencing the other in profound ways. When both conditions occur simultaneously, they are referred to as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. Understanding the connection between mental health and addiction, and why integrated treatment is essential, is critical for those struggling with both conditions. What is Dual Diagnosis? Dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a mental health disorder (such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia) and a substance use disorder (such as alcohol or drug addiction) in the same individual. These conditions often develop concurrently, with one disorder influencing or exacerbating the other. Research has shown that approximately 50% of individuals with a severe mental health disorder also have a substance use disorder (SAMHSA, 2019). How Mental Health and Addiction Are Connected …
