Dual diagnosis means that a person has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and an alcohol or drug addiction. People with schizophrenia are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than the average person, making dual diagnoses with schizophrenia quite common. Sometimes, a person experiences symptoms of schizophrenia and turns to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism. The reverse of this is also true. In fact, drug use can sometimes worsen schizophrenia symptoms.
When a person has a dual diagnosis of addiction and schizophrenia, both conditions need to be treated. Schizophrenia treatment works best when a person is not abusing drugs or alcohol, so the substance problems are usually treated first. After an individual is clean, they may begin schizophrenia treatments including therapy and antipsychotic medications.
Dual diagnosis means that a person has been diagnosed with
schizophrenia and an alcohol or drug addiction. People with
schizophrenia are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than the
average person, making dual diagnoses with schizophrenia...
More
Dual diagnosis means that a person has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and an alcohol addiction.Dual diagnosis means that a person has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and an alcohol addiction. More
Dr. Mark Morocco answered:Dual diagnosis means that a person has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and an alcohol or drug addiction. People with schizophrenia are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than the average person, making dual diagnoses with schizophrenia quite common. Sometimes, a person experiences symptoms of schizophrenia and turns to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism. The reverse of this is also true. In fact, drug use can sometimes worsen schizophrenia symptoms.
