Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

At Annandale Wellness in Pasadena, CA, we offer integrated treatment for individuals struggling to overcome co-occurring disorders. Integrated Treatment is very effective because it provides a team of highly trained professionals who work together to coordinate a continuum of care for individuals with these disorders.

Mental illness and substance misuse disorder often go together. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Among the 20.2 million adults in the U.S. who experienced a substance use disorder, 50.5%—10.2 million adults—had a co-occurring mental illness.”

Combine all that with a medical disorder, and it’s not surprising that people with co-occurring disorders, also known as comorbidities, are at high risk for poor health, disability and even premature death.

What is Meant by Comorbidities?

Comorbidity is when two or more conditions appear at the same time in an individual. The conditions can occur simultaneously, or one can happen right after the other. Comorbidity can also mean interactions between the disorders can make the course of both worse.

These medical and psychiatric conditions are sometimes a direct outcome of substance abuse, but they can also be pre-existing. For instance, an individual may misuse substances to cope with the debilitating effects of schizophrenia.

The Annandale Wellness private recovery clinic in Pasadena offers substance use addiction treatment to individuals with co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions. We pride ourselves on our strong clinical team, and as a result, we can accept and successfully treat individuals with comorbidities.

Common Co-Occurring Disorders

Listed below are some of the most prevalent co-occurring medical and psychiatric disorders:

Medical Disorders

Gastrointestinal disorders
Cardiovascular disorders
Hematologic disorders
Pulmonary disorders
Endocrine disorders

Psychiatric Disorders

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is defined as treating a person with both a substance use disorder and mental health issues simultaneously or in the same treatment program. This approach has proved to be much more effective for individuals with comorbidities than any other method of addressing each issue separately.

The History of Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Before the 1990s, the conventional approach to comorbidity therapy was sequential therapy. With this type of therapy, the person’s addiction was treated first. Once the person was sober and in recovery, the mental illness was then treated.

The addiction treatment community now understands that both mental health and addiction need to be addressed at the same time because

they are often intertwined and connected, thereby amplifying the symptoms of one another.

Why is Dual Diagnosis Treatment So Critical?

People with co-occurring disorders often require more comprehensive, coordinated, and longer-term treatment than those without co-occurring disorders.

This outcome is largely the result of symptoms of each disorder aggravating the other. For example, a person with bipolar disorder who also has a substance use disorder may experience more frequent and severe manic episodes.

Individuals undergoing detoxification frequently present with medical and psychological conditions that can greatly affect their overall health and the process of detoxification. The detoxification process can negatively affect the co-occurring disorder, so individuals must be monitored very closely.

Why Integrated Treatment is Key to Recovery

Evidence-based studies have shown that integrating mental health care into addiction programs results in better outcomes than providing services separately. The best dual diagnosis treatment approach is to integrate mental health components into all levels of care.

This modern approach to treating comorbid conditions and substance misuse disorders is called integrated treatment because it integrates mental health care into substance use disorder treatment. This approach contrasts with the sequential method of treating only one disorder at a time and having separate mental health providers for each patient’s different disorders.

A key element in integrated treatment involves matching appropriate levels of care to an individual based on their level of impairment, not just relying on diagnostic labels or categories.

Annandale Wellness Offers Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

The Annandale Wellness program is a great example of integrated treatment because all our services are based on the most current scientific knowledge about mental health and substance use disorders.

Annandale’s integrated treatment approach is designed to address all aspects of the individual’s health and well-being. Our team of clinicians provides a comprehensive evaluation upon admission to develop an individualized treatment plan that addresses each person’s unique needs.

Our Pasadena, CA private recovery clinic integrates evidence-based addiction treatment with dual diagnosis therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Our evidence-based approach includes individual and group therapy, as well as medication management and psychoeducation. We also provide support for the family members of our clients.

Our guests will sometimes need to be evaluated by a specialist, need full medical workups including imaging, lab work, intravenous infusions and electrolyte replacement therapy. Annandale understands that individuals may present with some of these more complex diagnoses, and we have an extraordinary network of providers with various specialties to help them achieve optimal health.

Contact Annandale Wellness Today for a Free Co-Occurring Disorders Assessment

If you or someone you love is struggling with a mental health disorder as well as substance use problems, please contact Annandale Wellness today for more information about our Pasadena, CA co-occurring disorders program.

Recovery is possible with the right help, so please call us today at 855-778-8668 for a free and confidential co-occurring disorders

assessment and to learn more about our integrated treatment approach. Our admissions coordinators are available 24 hours to answer your questions and provide assistance in any way possible.

If you are ready to take back your life, Annandale can help!