Outside of the therapeutic setting, substance use and mental health are often considered to be separate and unrelated issues. This perception is not just untrue, but can even be overlooked within the therapeutic setting, resulting in improperly diagnosed clients and ultimately poor treatment outcomes. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) group’s substance related disorders into two categories: substance use disorders and substance abuse disorders, both of which provide credence to mental health symptoms and disorders. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013) substance use disorders are the underlying change to brain circuitry that may persist beyond detoxification, whereas substance
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Within this classification a client may be assessed with a co-occurring disorder that may or may not relate to symptoms brought on by the substance used. When a diagnosis of substance-induced disorder is used, there is no criterion for severity based on the substance, but rather the symptomatic mental disorder that is displayed by the client. Considering an individual’s abstinence from stimulants for several weeks, they can still experience a dysphoric state that is marked with an absence of pleasure and associated anxiety, but which may not meet the symptom severity criteria of Major depression in the DSM (SAMHSA, 2005). Though a client may suffer from a mental disorder, the importance of assessing the individual properly is crucial in determining what coarse of action to take in treatment. Treating a client for what may seem to be a substance-induced psychosis and ignoring the presence of mental illness, will result in the clients return to active substance use. Daley & Moss (2002) points out that “treatment must address both conditions at some point, either sequentially or simultaneously” (pg.12-13). As such it is imperative that the therapist properly reveals either co-occurring or substance induced mania. Treatment should be reviewed by a team dedicated to the clients well-being and best practice for
Within this classification a client may be assessed with a co-occurring disorder that may or may not relate to symptoms brought on by the substance used. When a diagnosis of substance-induced disorder is used, there is no criterion for severity based on the substance, but rather the symptomatic mental disorder that is displayed by the client. Considering an individual’s abstinence from stimulants for several weeks, they can still experience a dysphoric state that is marked with an absence of pleasure and associated anxiety, but which may not meet the symptom severity criteria of Major depression in the DSM (SAMHSA, 2005). Though a client may suffer from a mental disorder, the importance of assessing the individual properly is crucial in determining what coarse of action to take in treatment. Treating a client for what may seem to be a substance-induced psychosis and ignoring the presence of mental illness, will result in the clients return to active substance use. Daley & Moss (2002) points out that “treatment must address both conditions at some point, either sequentially or simultaneously” (pg.12-13). As such it is imperative that the therapist properly reveals either co-occurring or substance induced mania. Treatment should be reviewed by a team dedicated to the clients well-being and best practice for