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submitted: May 25th 2008 | by: ChrisChanning | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 527 | |

Dual diagnosis is the combination of addictions, or when a mentally ill individual becomes a drug user or addict of any particular drug. Dual diagnosis can also be when a mentally challenged person adapts a personality disorder in addition. Medical care is necessary for those who suffer from these disorders and addictions.

Dual diagnosis can be any combination of they previously stated problems. Most of the suffering addicts are in treatment, but some are unable to due to being homeless, poor, or being held in prison. When this happens the suffering may never be able to end their case of dual diagnosis.

There are several classifications of dual diagnosis. These are MICAA, MISA, MIDAA, CAMI, and CAMI with substance induced psychotic episodes. Each of these acronyms classifies a different combination of illnesses and addictions. Some of them are purely addictions; others are combinations of dual diagnosis disorders.

Those who fall under MICAA are those who are mentally ill and have used chemical drugs and become addicted. This form of dual diagnosis does not contain those who are severely mentally ill. MISA is simply the mentally ill who are currently using chemical substance drugs but have not yet become addicted. Those who suffer from the form of dual diagnosis MIDAA have no forms of mental illness. Patients of this disorder suffer from alcoholism and addiction to any sort of drug in addition. CAMI consists of those who continually use chemical drugs, but are not addicted. They also must have a form of mental illness that does not consist of a personality disorder of any kind.

Dual diagnosis in the mentally challenged can be very hard to detect by those who are supposed to take care of them. This is due to the fact that sometimes the mentally challenged drug user can act similar to a severe mentally ill person during an outburst. Finding treatment may also prove difficult, because if a mentally ill addict is brought to a normal addiction treatment center the people that work there may not know how to deal with a mentally challenged patient.

These problems should be dealt with immediately by those who are professionally trained to work with them. They can better understand the needs of the patients and what is best for them. They can walk them through the process of getting clean and starting there life over again after treatment is finished.

The process in which a patient with dual diagnosis must go through before they can be considered rid of the illness. First is detoxification, in which the patient goes the process of having all of the drug related chemicals removed from their body. This can take up to seven days and cause several symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, headache and sweating, along with many other unpleasant symptoms.

Long term residential programs have been set up for those trying to recover from dual diagnosis and wish to lead as normal lives as possible after their stay. These centers are much like your traditional addiction treatment center, but are better prepared for those patients with special needs.

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Find out more on Dual Diagnosis and Dual Diagnosis Treatment.

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