Introduction
Dual diagnosis is a health condition involving a person affected by several disorders. One of the factors associated with the condition is that it manifests with complex symptoms, making the diagnosis difficult. The symptoms of a specific disorder can influence those of another, causing a client’s condition to be severe. Overlapping symptoms also enhance the likelihood of health professionals making a misdiagnosis, which can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life.
The complexity of symptoms requires health professionals to utilize specialized diagnostic tools to aid in the identification of the disorders affecting a person. A person suffering from a comorbidity is likely to experience health complications from time to time, which cause a reduced quality of life. The different complications contribute to a rise in the social and medical costs that people face.
Obstacles in Treatment and Recovery
Increased Risk of Relapse and Maladaptive Coping
One of the obstacles faced in the treatment and recovery process of clients with dual diagnosis is that clients face an increased risk of relapse. Failure to implement a holistic approach in the treatment process leaves some underlying struggles, which can contribute to a relapse in the treatment process. Experiencing a relapse enhances the risk of a patient being hospitalized. Clients are also likely to adopt maladaptive habits and coping mechanisms as a way of dealing with their disorders, thus exposing themselves to other forms of addiction.
Lack of Specialized Treatment Facilities
Another obstacle in treating clients with comorbidity is that specialized treatment is required for positive outcomes to be achieved (Malervy, 2020). However, some health facilities do not have the capacity to treat the different conditions that a client is suffering from, making it difficult to address the factors contributing to an individual’s condition.
Limited Expertise and Poor Communication Among Health Professionals
Health professionals lacking the expertise and resources to handle dual diagnosis clients have also limited the treatment of such clients. Health professionals are often knowledgeable in addressing a single disorder, which might not contribute to a client’s full recovery. Lack of proper communication between health professionals also acts as a barrier to treating dual diagnosis. Inadequate resources make it challenging for clients to receive the support they need during the recovery process, thus increasing the risk of relapse.
Insufficient Insurance Coverage for Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Another obstacle encountered by clients seeking treatment and recovery for dual diagnosis is inadequate insurance coverage. Insurance providers offer limited coverage for addiction and mental health problems. In this case, individuals affected by comorbidities end up covering significant out-of-pocket costs. The perception that seeking treatment for dual diagnosis is expensive can lead clients to forego the treatment.
The general approach to treating comorbid clients starts with a thorough assessment to identify the specific disorders affecting them. Assessments enable health professionals to collect information related to a patient’s condition to be used in the development of a comprehensive treatment plan (Laaser, 2009). The treatment process might require healthcare professionals to work collaboratively to address a comorbidity’s different aspects (Foster et al., 2022).
Conclusion
The treatment must be based on evidence-based interventions to promote client recovery. The treatment process should focus on addressing each patient’s unique needs. It is also necessary to ensure that the clients receive supportive services after treatment (NIDA, 2021). Such services are essential to enhance recovery by minimizing relapse risk while promoting desirable behaviors. Positive outcomes can be achieved by initiating a follow-up on the client’s condition to identify the need for adjustments.
References
Foster, G., Robertson, J., Pallis, S., & Segal, J. (2022). The dual diagnosis clinician shared care model–a clinical mental health dual diagnosis integrated treatment initiative. Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 15(3), 165-176.
Laaser, M. (2009). Healing the wounds of sexual addiction. Zondervan.
Malervy, J. (2020). 5 obstacles of dual diagnosis residential treatment patients. Recovery Centers of America. Web.
NIDA. (2021). What are the treatments for comorbid substance use disorder and mental health conditions? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Web.