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Can Drug Addiction Help Also Treat Bipolar Disorder?
When people suffer from more than one disorder at the same time or subsequently, those conditions are termed “comorbid.” They can also be referred to as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Professional drug addiction help is designed to treat all of your disorders at the same time because treatment of one will impact the others, and this can undermine a treatment plan.
Previously termed manic depression, bipolar disorder is marked by cycling between a depressed state and a manic one. Shifts in mood, energy level and behavior are often sudden and severe. People with bipolar disorder face a number of negative outcomes because of their condition and these are often compounded by substance use disorders because there is a strong correlation between the two.
The Link Between Addiction and Bipolar Disorder
An article published by the American Journal of Managed Care presents the following data:
• Roughly 56 percent of diagnosed bipolar individuals who participated in a national study reported experiencing alcohol or drug addiction during their lifetime.
• Of that group, 46 percent reported abusing alcohol or an addiction to alcohol.
• Approximately 41 percent of them were drug addicts or abused drugs.
• The most commonly abused substance among bipolar individuals is alcohol.
The strong relationship between bipolar disorder and addiction can’t be easily identified. Some speculate that people with bipolar disorder self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. However, for many people, mood cycling is increased because of drug and alcohol use, undermining its function as a coping mechanism.
Is It Easy to Diagnose Bipolar Disorder and Addiction?
Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of bipolar disorder and a substance use disorder are the same, which may mean that one may mask the other. For example, during hypomanic periods, a person with bipolar disorder will be more talkative, require less sleep, and feel increased happiness. But, these are also the behaviors and feelings associated with the use of cocaine and other drugs. Alternately, depression can lead to fatigue, decreased appetite, and loss of interest in former activities, which are also symptoms of opioid use.
Treating a Dual Diagnosis
Bipolar disorder is primarily treated with behavioral therapy and medication, although some people actually undergo shock therapy. These are the same approaches used in drug addiction help. Integrated treatment will approach both disorders and treat them simultaneously, minimizing the negative impacts that one may have upon the treatment of the other.
Previously termed manic depression, bipolar disorder is marked by cycling between a depressed state and a manic one. Shifts in mood, energy level and behavior are often sudden and severe. People with bipolar disorder face a number of negative outcomes because of their condition and these are often compounded by substance use disorders because there is a strong correlation between the two.
The Link Between Addiction and Bipolar Disorder
An article published by the American Journal of Managed Care presents the following data:
• Roughly 56 percent of diagnosed bipolar individuals who participated in a national study reported experiencing alcohol or drug addiction during their lifetime.
• Of that group, 46 percent reported abusing alcohol or an addiction to alcohol.
• Approximately 41 percent of them were drug addicts or abused drugs.
• The most commonly abused substance among bipolar individuals is alcohol.
The strong relationship between bipolar disorder and addiction can’t be easily identified. Some speculate that people with bipolar disorder self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. However, for many people, mood cycling is increased because of drug and alcohol use, undermining its function as a coping mechanism.
Is It Easy to Diagnose Bipolar Disorder and Addiction?
Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of bipolar disorder and a substance use disorder are the same, which may mean that one may mask the other. For example, during hypomanic periods, a person with bipolar disorder will be more talkative, require less sleep, and feel increased happiness. But, these are also the behaviors and feelings associated with the use of cocaine and other drugs. Alternately, depression can lead to fatigue, decreased appetite, and loss of interest in former activities, which are also symptoms of opioid use.
Treating a Dual Diagnosis
Bipolar disorder is primarily treated with behavioral therapy and medication, although some people actually undergo shock therapy. These are the same approaches used in drug addiction help. Integrated treatment will approach both disorders and treat them simultaneously, minimizing the negative impacts that one may have upon the treatment of the other.