Dual Diagnosis?

Just a general question: dual diagnosis is when some1 is diagnosed with bipolar and some adiction, or it can be any combination of psychological diseases like paranoia and schizophrenia at the same time.

adiction is not really a diagnosis in itself is it??

i though so far that dual diagnosis can be in any type of illness....

my grandmother was diagnosed with Paranoia and Schizophrenia at the same time --- and that may be cause the docs had no clue as to what was actually going on, or she was actually suffering from both.

So to the point: what exactly is dual diagnosis?

Welcome!

Dual diagnosis, within the context of this forum, means a diagnosis of bipolar disease with a diagnosis of addiction, chronic substance abuse, or alcoholism.

If you use the name of any of the four diseases in a keyword search, you will find tons of definitions, etc. online.

http://health.enotes.com/mental-disorders-encyclopedia/dual- diagnosis

MD Junction also has a general mental health forum and a bipolar forum where you will often find posts and links related to your own questions.

In the matter of diagnosing these diseases, the clinician most often identifies the symptoms and suggests a diagnosis. However for successful treatment, it is my understanding and experience that the patient must admit to having the diseases and accept the treatment.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer? pagename=about_publications_dualdiag

http://mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=691

The reason that the patient has to play this part to comfirm the diagnosis is because the symptoms of these diseases are less physical and more along the lines of emotions, behavior, social impact, and most of all extremes of mood. As a result, the patient has to become actively aware of the true nature of the symptoms before anyone can truly help him to manage the disease and to recover.

I know all of what I said sounds a little like "double talk." It's really hard to understand the idea of self-diagnosis assisted by a health professional--unless you have experienced it firsthand.

On the other hand, remember, that just because you see symptoms in yourself doesn't mean you've "got it." If you think you've "got it", that's a good reason to see a doc. Self-medication without a doctor's direction is just another road to hell.

Thanks for joining in, and please keep coming back!

Regards,

Jim

www.cerebral-storm.com/page13.html

Post edited by: JR1, at: 10/03/2007 15:19

This makes it clearer in my head.

I suppose BP and addiction go hand in hand because the "patient" (how to call them?) is trying to find some kind of balance, to put his energy on something or at least to keep his mind off the disease and its destructive thoughts. Or at least this is how I see it. I've seen very often adictions in persons that were suffering from one psychological disease or another. Is this the reason? Trying to cope? You tell me.

George DDF MMF http://hometown.aol.com/varnua/page43.html

Tjhanks for being