dual diagnosis

(noun)

Also called co-occurring disorders; the condition of suffering from a mental illness and a simultaneously occurring substance abuse problem.

Related Terms

Examples of dual diagnosis in the following topics:

  • Cluster A: Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders

    • According to the DSM-5, to qualify for a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder, at least 4 of 7 criteria must be met.
    • STPD is rarely seen as a primary reason for treatment in a clinical setting, but it has high rates of comorbidity with other mental disorders (i.e., it is often part of a dual diagnosis of STPD and a second disorder).

  • Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

    • Over 50% of individuals with substance-related disorders will often have a dual diagnosis, where they are simultaneously diagnosed with another psychiatric diagnosis, the most common being major depression, dysthymia, personality disorders, and anxiety disorders.

  • Gender Dysphoria

    • Gender dysphoria is a controversial diagnosis characterized by a person's discontent with the sex and gender they were assigned at birth.
    • The DSM-5 also moved this diagnosis out of the sexual disorders category and into a category of its own.  
    • The diagnosis for children has been separated from that for adults.
    • The previous diagnosis of gender identity disorder (GID) caused a great deal of controversy.
    • The diagnosis remains controversial today.

  • Linguistic Relativity

    • Language and thought tend to influence one another in a dual, cyclical relationship.
    • Language and thought (or "cognition") tend to interact in a dual and cyclical relationship, a theory known overall as linguistic relativity.

  • Somatic Symptom Disorders

    • The diagnosis of somatic symptom disorders is historically rooted in the late 18th century diagnosis of "hysteria," which is now considered obsolete.
    • In 1980 the American Psychiatric Association replaced the diagnosis of hysteria in the DSM with more precisely defined conditions and symptoms, such as somatization disorder.
    • Their replacement, somatic symptom disorder, has the following criteria for diagnosis:
    • Somatic symptom disorder is a controversial diagnosis.
    • Consequently, any person suffering from a poorly understood physical illness could be seen as fulfilling the criteria for this psychiatric diagnosis.

  • Depressive Disorders

    • This controversial decision means those who were previously exempt from a diagnosis of MDD due to bereavement (mourning the loss of a loved one) are now candidates for the MDD diagnosis.
    • In 2013, the DSM-5 released a new diagnosis called persistent depressive disorder.
    • This diagnosis combines the previous disorders of chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, as there was no evidence for meaningful differences between these two conditions.
    • Diagnosis requires that a person experience depressed moods most of the day nearly every day for at least two years, as well as at least two of the other symptoms of major depressive disorder.
    • DMDD was added to the DSM-5 in 2013 as a diagnosis for children and adolescents who would normally be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, as a way to limit the bipolar diagnosis in this age cohort.

  • Neurocognitive Disorders

    • Although the speed of progression can vary, the average life expectancy following diagnosis is three to nine years.
    • A probable diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease is based on the history of the illness and cognitive testing with medical imaging and blood tests to rule out other possible causes.
    • Initial symptoms are often mistaken for normal ageing; examination of brain tissue is needed for a definite diagnosis.
    • What was previously referred to as dementia now constitutes most forms of major NCDs, while the diagnosis of mild NCD is reserved for cognitive symptoms that do not qualify for a major NCD.
    • For a diagnosis of mild NCD, the person must still be able to live and perform everyday activities independently.

  • Bipolar Disorders

    • A diagnosis of bipolar I requires the occurrence of one or more manic or mixed episodes that last for at least a week (though less if hospitalization is required).
    • A major depressive episode is not required for diagnosis of bipolar I, although it frequently occurs.
    • In order for bipolar II to be diagnosed, the person must not have experienced a full manic episode; however, one or more hypomanic episodes and one or more major depressive episodes are required to merit diagnosis.
    • A diagnosis requires that a person experience hypomanic episodes with periods of a milder form of depression, known as dysthymia, for at least 2 years.
    • While not officially on the spectrum of bipolar disorders, the DSM-5 recently added the diagnosis of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD).

  • Cluster B: Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders

    • ASPD is sometimes referred to as psychopathy or sociopathy, though the criteria might be slightly different depending on the method of diagnosis.
    • Treatments should be based on the needs of the individual, rather than upon the general diagnosis of BPD.
    • According to the DSM-5, a diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder is indicated by at least five of the following:
    • There are a few theories, however, that relate to the lineage of its diagnosis.
    • Features of conduct disorder (CD) are necessary for a diagnosis of ASPD.

  • The Endocrine System and Hunger

    • In the 1940s, the "dual-center" model, which divided the hypothalamus into hunger (lateral hypothalamus) and satiety (ventromedial hypothalamus) centers, was popular.
    • Recently, further study has called the dual-center model into question, but the hypothalamus certainly does play a role in hunger.