However, other psychological studies do support the self-medication pathway through findings that suggest certain mental disorders predict the later onset of substance use and abuse (Swendsen et al., 2010). Through exploring the different pathways of development of comorbid disorders, it becomes clear there is a mutual maintenance pattern that appears to occur between the two disorders (Smith & Book, 2008). This mutual maintenance pattern means that once both disorders are present in an individual they each mutually maintain, perpetuate, and exacerbate the course of the other disorder.
Implications
Pathways to the development and of the mutual maintenance of comorbid anxiety and substance use disorders create important implications for …show more content…
Evidence supports that mental illness and substance use disorder comorbidity increases the risk of violence in individuals, when compared to having just one disorder (Butler et al., 2011). This creates a need for more mental health programs in the correctional environment (eg. to help those with anxiety disorders and substance use disorders). Overall, the research topics covered in this essay may have important implications for research on and management of comorbid anxiety and substance use …show more content…
Exploring this topic can provide insight into research, prevalence, patterns of development and maintenance, prevention, and treatment of these comorbid disorders. This paper reviewed the concepts of a substance use disorder, psychiatric comorbidity, and anxiety disorders. It then explored various research on the topic, including: the importance of studying these specific disorders together, the proposed primary pathways to comorbidity (eg. the self-medication pathway, the substance-induced anxiety disorder pathway, and the third variable pathway), how the presence of one disorder affects the other through the maintenance model, and implications from this field of research. In doing so, this paper attempted to answer the question: “What is the mutual impact of a comorbid anxiety disorder and substance use
Implications
Pathways to the development and of the mutual maintenance of comorbid anxiety and substance use disorders create important implications for …show more content…
Evidence supports that mental illness and substance use disorder comorbidity increases the risk of violence in individuals, when compared to having just one disorder (Butler et al., 2011). This creates a need for more mental health programs in the correctional environment (eg. to help those with anxiety disorders and substance use disorders). Overall, the research topics covered in this essay may have important implications for research on and management of comorbid anxiety and substance use …show more content…
Exploring this topic can provide insight into research, prevalence, patterns of development and maintenance, prevention, and treatment of these comorbid disorders. This paper reviewed the concepts of a substance use disorder, psychiatric comorbidity, and anxiety disorders. It then explored various research on the topic, including: the importance of studying these specific disorders together, the proposed primary pathways to comorbidity (eg. the self-medication pathway, the substance-induced anxiety disorder pathway, and the third variable pathway), how the presence of one disorder affects the other through the maintenance model, and implications from this field of research. In doing so, this paper attempted to answer the question: “What is the mutual impact of a comorbid anxiety disorder and substance use