Many people with addictions also often suffer with another mental illness, as well. These patients are referred to as having co-occurring disorders. Over eight million adults across the nation live with co-occurring disorders every day. Some of the mental illnesses that are commonly present with addiction include post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and anxiety. The symptoms of addiction and other mental health disorders exacerbate each other, expanding their severity.
Researchers have discovered that the most effective treatment for co-occurring disorders is integrated treatment in an addiction psychiatric hospital. Integrated treatment is used by savvy addiction professionals to treat each condition simultaneously. Integrated treatment allows the patient to gain healthy coping skills and other habits that promote long-term recovery from both – or all – mental health conditions.
While its continually unclear which mental health condition is responsible for the other, an addiction psychiatric hospital uses treatment strategies to overcome every symptom concurrently. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the common backbone of treatment among reputable and credentialed addiction psychiatric hospitals. Other treatment strategies may include art therapy, music therapy, life skills courses, group therapy for social interaction and the development of an aftercare plan that supports newly-established habits, which make a lifestyle of recovery possible.
