A mental illness often does not come alone. When you are dealing with multiple disorders or conditions at the same time we speak of comorbidity. But what exactly does this mean? And how do you treat comorbidity?
What is comorbidity
Comorbidity is the simultaneous occurrence of two or more mental disorders or addictions. For example, someone with depression may also have an alcohol addiction or a personality disorder. These dual diagnoses are common in the mental health system. Of people older than 50 with an anxiety disorder or depression , 80% have comorbidity. Of those older than 55 with a chronic condition, more than half do.
It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether someone is dealing with comorbidity and what disorders are involved. For example, a person may self-isolate for a long time and have depressive symptoms. These complaints may stem from a dual diagnosis, such as anti-social disorder and depression, or from either of these diagnoses. Therefore, the cause of the symptoms must be properly investigated for treatment.
Emergence of multiple diagnoses
Among the Dutch population, 19% have ever experienced substance abuse or dependence. For people with severe mental illness, this number was much higher at 41%. People with mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, are much more likely to experience addiction.
Due to biological factors, people with mental disorders are more susceptible to addiction than others. As a result, small amounts of alcohol or drugs can have much greater consequences and lead to substance dependence more quickly.
People with a single mental disorder are also more likely to develop a second mental disorder. For example, about 84% of people with borderline also have at least one other mental disorder or addiction, and 74% also have another personality disorder at some point in their lives. Similarly, people with PTSD are 80% more likely to have at least one other mental disorder at the same time.
Relapse with comorbidity
Often people with multiple diagnoses do not get the right help, nor do healthcare professionals know where a person can turn. Within mental health care, addictions are often not treated, and within addiction care, mental illnesses are again not treated. As a result, only the addiction or mental illness is treated.
In clients with multiple diagnoses, it is often difficult to tell whether the addiction has arisen from the mental illness or vice versa. Comorbidity always involves the mutual influence of two disorders. It is therefore very important to treat both diagnoses at the same time. If, for example, only the addiction is treated and not the mental disorder, this also increases the chances of relapse.
Treatment of comorbidity at U-center
U-center is an expert in treating multiple problems. We offer you integral treatment of multiple diagnoses simultaneously. Through short-term treatment, you will work with a team of practitioners to work with yourself. Through a unique holistic approach, which is fully tailored to your situation, we treat all problems and underlying factors simultaneously. Treatment is aimed at giving you back your role in society as soon as possible.
Recovery is only a small part of the treatment. Together we will do everything possible to prevent relapse and to enable you to continue to develop yourself once you have left U-center. U-center gives you the right support on all these points. In addition to your future development plan, your therapist guides you in keeping a grip on difficult situations. We pay particular attention to repeating and thus securing the insights and skills you have developed in the treatment center.