Many people mistakenly believe addiction treatment only involves going through detox. However, addiction is a complex disease. For comprehensive recovery, psychiatric care is often necessary. Find out how undergoing a psychiatric evaluation is key to the addiction recovery process.

The Link Between Mental Health and Addiction

First, you must understand the relationship between mental health and addiction. In fact, more than half of people with mental illnesses also suffer from a substance abuse disorder. Conversely, addiction can sometimes cause individuals to suffer from mental health concerns like depression or anxiety.

While this connection is clear, during recovery, patients deserve psychological help and medical support. An evaluation is a great way to determine whether a patient needs extra help. Through this assessment, patients can better assess the specific care they need for long-term sobriety.

What to Expect From a Psychiatric Evaluation

Anyone planning to attend a rehab program should expect a psychiatric assessment prior to admission. Often, this takes less than an hour. Overall, it’s a chance for incoming patients to speak with medical professionals. Typically, it’s an informal question and answer process.

Sometimes, patients have mental health concerns. Or, they might have a diagnosis from years past. They can share this during the psychiatric evaluation.

A psychiatrist also asks leading questions, assessing the answers to diagnose mental health issues. Conversation topics might include fears, life’s challenges, previous experiences, or worries about recovery. The information from this assessment goes toward a diagnosis, and addiction specialists use it to create a custom plan for a patient’s individual needs.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis is diagnosing and treating two disorders simultaneously. Often, this involves a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder. Above all, it’s vital to treat both conditions at the same time.

If you treat mental health conditions first, then addictive behavior could return. Likewise, if you treat addiction first, underlying mental health concerns could derail recovery. Therefore, simultaneous support is the best way to ensure patients leave rehab with the skills, resources, and the ability to stay sober.

Comprehensive Addiction Treatment at Steps to Recovery

At Steps to Recovery, dual diagnosis care can be the answer. If you or a loved one has struggled with addiction, relapsed in the past, or need help for mental health concerns, then dual diagnosis needs to be a part of the recovery plan. A comprehensive plan to treat mental and physical aspects of addiction includes:

• Family support group and education courses
• Individual addiction counseling
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy
• Group therapy

A psychiatric evaluation could help patients get the custom care they need for overcoming addiction. At Steps to Recovery in Levittown, Pennsylvania, help is available. Take the next step to health, sobriety, and happiness by calling 267.209.7312.