Those seeking co-occurring disorders treatment are often doing so because they have received multiple diagnoses from one or more professionals in their lives. Co-occurring disorders refers to the existence or two or more diagnosable illnesses present simultaneously in one person.
As such, those suffering from co-occurring disorders may feel overwhelmed or hopeless at the prospect of treatment, that recovery from one illness is difficult enough but from two or more may be impossible.
However, there is an entire professional industry dedicated to co-occurring disorders treatment, and research indicates a solid treatment plan can result in high improvements in quality of life and stable recovery.
A repeating message throughout the discourse of co-occurring disorders is that they are complex in nature and best treatment requires a holistic, integrated, and multidisciplinary approach to care.
The length of such treatment depends on what disorders exactly are present, how severe the symptoms are, and how long a person has been suffering from one or more disorders.
The most effective treatment for co-occurring disorders should start with a solid integrated treatment plan.
Integrated treatment, otherwise call integrated care or integrated behavioural health, refers to healthcare that is comprehensive in combining physical, mental, and emotional health services into one unified and coordinated system.
The goal of such treatment is to provide a service of care that address all aspects of wellbeing and health in a seamless and holistic way.
Integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders is similar to the above outline for integrated treatment, however requires some special considerations for the complexity and delicate nature of co-occurring disorders.
Research consistently demonstrates that treating multiple disorders simultaneously results in better overall outcomes than treating each condition separately. This respects the interconnectedness and cyclical nature of mental health issues, physical health issues, and substance use disorder.
Given the intricate nature of co-occurring disorders, their effective treatment necessitates an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, as outlined above. A collaborative team, equipped with diverse expertise, can work holistically to address all dimensions of an individual’s health.
By comprehensively addressing all relevant disorders, individuals have an increased likelihood of achieving long-term recovery and experiencing an improved quality of life. Comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment for a person suffering from co-occurring disorders should include:
Treatment for those suffering with substance use disorders often starts with detox and withdrawal from the substances themselves.
Once someone has established a physical and psychological stability in absence of the substance in question, the full treatment plan can begin in earnest. Key features of substance disorder treatment within the context of co-occurring disorders include:
As outlined above, co-occurring disorders are complex to treat and require a multidisciplinary approach to ensure simultaneous care of the two or more disorders. Due to the intricate nature of such treatment, it can be difficult to find an out-patient provider that can adequately meet these requirements.
It often requires the coordination of many separate professionals who may not be used to working in an interdisciplinary way. As such, in-patient treatment centres are a much more efficient and comfortable way to start a recovery journey.
The professionals involved are already part of an established multidisciplinary team and have systems in place to ensure that their work is integrated in a holistic way to cover all relevant concerns.
Being in a comfortable place of care and support is also one way to ensure immersion in the treatment and better set-up the longevity of recovery.
Clinic Les Alpes is one such treatment centre that can offer individualised integrated treatment plans, delivered by an experienced multidisciplinary team within the context of luxury accommodations. If you are interested in knowing more, either for yourself or for a loved one, please do not hesitate to reach out for more information.
Co-occurring disorders require an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to treatment to ensure simultaneous care. This care must be provided in a consistent and coherent manner, with all professionals working in collaboration to support the individual.
Co-occurring disorders treatment can be complex and seem overwhelming, but with the right care team and professionals, every person can expect positive improvement and outcomes in their recovery.
