When someone suffers from dual diagnosis, they have both a mental illness and a substance use disorder. This is a serious problem that requires treatment for both conditions at the same time.

Treatments can include counseling, medication, support groups or inpatient care. Family and friends can also play a role in a person’s recovery.

Genetic Predisposition

A genetic predisposition to a disease is the presence of a certain gene variation inherited from one or more parents that increases the risk of developing the condition. Some variations have minor effects on how likely you are to get a disease; others have much greater effects.

In some cases, people who have these variations may never develop the condition. But in other cases, they can cause a disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis later on.

Research shows that many of these predispositions are caused by mutations in a specific protein or other genetic material. These are often found in the HLA axis genes - which code for molecules that recognize and present antigens to helper T cells.

Understanding how these genes and their interactions fuel cancer is essential for finding new prevention and treatment strategies. Researchers at St. Jude are at the forefront of building laboratory models that reveal how these mechanisms interact and affect the course of the disease.

Early Exposure to Alcohol or Drugs

People who experiment with drugs or alcohol at a young age are more likely to develop an addiction later on. They are also more prone to mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia.

During the teenage years, a flood of hormones changes the brain in ways that increase someone's risk for developing an addiction and a mental illness. This is particularly true for those who have a genetic predisposition to substance abuse and mental disorders.

When people have both a mental illness and a substance use disorder, they can struggle to cope with their symptoms, meet their responsibilities at home or work, and interact with others. They may be at a higher risk of experiencing legal problems or becoming homeless.

If you have a mental health condition and a substance abuse problem, the NHS says it is important that you get help from your local mental health service. They will work with drug and alcohol services to give you all the support you need.

Mental Disorders

Mental disorders are medical conditions that affect thinking, feeling and behavior (or a combination). They can cause distress and/or interfere with social and work activities.

Mental health disorders can be treated with medication, therapy and support. Treatment can also help people learn how to manage their symptoms and live a normal life again.

Dual diagnosis is when a person has a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. This can be a difficult combination to deal with, as both problems affect the brain differently.

Dual diagnosis adds complexity to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. It can also be associated with increased incidences of relapse, poorer physical health and risks of homelessness and violence.

Addiction

Dual diagnosis is a condition in which people suffer from both a substance abuse disorder and a mental health problem. The symptoms of both disorders can be severe and resistant to treatment, making recovery more complex than with one disorder alone.

Symptoms vary from person to person but can include anxiety, depression, and psychotic episodes such as hallucinations or delusions. In severe cases, individuals may become violent or talk about suicide.

A person with a dual diagnosis will likely use drugs or alcohol to relieve the symptoms of an existing mental illness. This can lead to a physical addiction to the drug or alcohol.

As with all addictions, addiction to substances disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. This includes changes in brain systems involved in reward, motivation, and memory. Over time, a person’s ability to exert self-control is impaired and they will need increasingly higher levels of the drug or alcohol to achieve the same effects as before.