Dual Diagnosis | Start Rehab Today

Dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders (COD) or dual pathology, refers to the condition of having a mental illness and a comorbid substance use disorder. This complex condition poses significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment, as substance use disorder can induce psychiatric symptoms, making it difficult to differentiate between substance-induced and pre-existing mental illness. The concept of dual diagnosis can be applied broadly, encompassing conditions such as depression and alcohol use disorder, or more specifically, severe mental illness (e.g., psychosis, schizophrenia) and substance use disorder (e.g., cannabis use). With the help of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and other organizations, researchers and clinicians are working to develop more effective treatment approaches for individuals with co-occurring disorders.