Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment at Delta Specialty Hospital in Memphis, TN
The term Dual Diagnosis refers to individuals who experience co-occurring mental health problems and substance abuse problems. This introduces increased complexity into the evaluation and diagnostic process, and treatment for dual diagnoses is far more difficult than simply addressing them as if they are two distinct disorders. The interactions between the two can complicate the presentation of each disorder, and the manner in which the individual describes their symptoms can be just different enough from how such symptoms are normally expressed as to throw the diagnostician off course. It requires specialized training and a history of successfully working with individuals suffering from a dual diagnosis to be able to accurately and reliably treat this type of problem. This situation is more common than most people realize, and even those who work providing services for individuals with mental health or addiction related disorders may not be fully aware of just how frequently these two types of conditions occur together.
Delta Specialty Hospital recognized the need for a dedicated program that provides specialized services for those suffering from a dual diagnosis. When mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress, or other emotional or psychiatric problems co-occur with substance abuse, both need to be diagnosed and then treated together in order to achieve the best possible outcome.
What to Expect
What you can expect from the evaluation process to treatment at Delta Specialty Hospital
Delta Specialty Hospital’s Dual Diagnosis Unit is a 22-bed, adult, inpatient diagnostic and treatment program designed to address the needs of individuals confronted with an addiction to alcohol or drugs accompanied by an emotional or psychiatric illness. Our in-depth, comprehensive evaluation process conducted by specially trained staff assesses the potential presence of substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders and obtains extensive details of each, as well as gaining a view of the general picture of your experiences. An individualized treatment plan is then developed by you and your treatment team to fit your needs. Treatment strategies focus on assisting individuals to effectively develop a lifestyle free of alcohol or drugs, learn ways to manage the symptoms of emotional or psychiatric illness in a healthy, constructive manner, and develop relapse prevention strategies for both conditions. Located in a full-service hospital, the Dual-Diagnosis Unit is ideally suited to address medical issues also.
Services Provided
Services Provided through Delta’s Dual Diagnosis Program
Comprehensive medical, psychiatric, and behavioral assessments are provided by a qualified interdisciplinary staff of physicians, nurses, counselors and social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists, and recreational therapists. Family members are included in many aspects of the patient’s treatment and are encouraged to participate in the family therapy sessions. The Dual-Diagnosis Unit also specializes in the treatment of prescription drug abuse.
