Co-occurring Mood Disorders, Dual Diagnosis

Depression, ADHD, ADD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bi-polar are all considered mood disorders. They become co-occurring mood disorders when they co-exit with alcoholism and/or drug addiction and abuse. These conditions are significant because they are directly related to recovery from substance abuse.

Many people who are alcoholic or chemically dependent also suffer from a mood disorder. When a person has both a chemical dependency and a mood disorder they are considered to have a co-occurring disorder. This is also referred to as a dual diagnosis.

Many people who are currently suffering from alcoholism or chemical dependency have some form of diagnosed or undiagnosed co-occurring mood disorder (dual diagnosis). When this is the case, they are considered to be “self-medicating” their mood disorder with drugs and/or alcohol.

Self-medication plays a key role in understanding treatment and recovery from alcohol or drug abuse. It is now considered critically important to identify the co-occurring mood disorder (dual diagnosis).

Self-medicating Depression

Cocaine, for example, is a powerful stimulant. Some people use cocaine to help them to cope with their unidentified or improperly treated depression. This has become more and more significant to the successful treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse. Unless the co-occurring mood disorder is properly diagnosed and addressed, it will always be one of the primary reasons someone cannot maintain long term abstinence.

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