Addiction Overview Substances of abuse Co-Morbidity Complications SUD in females SUD in adolescents Prevention Treatment Recovery

Addiction

Co-Morbidity

What is Co-Morbidity?

Condition that is stated when two or more disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person. They can occur at the same time or one after the other. Comorbidity also points to the interactions between the illnesses that can worsen the course of both.

Rate of incidence:

The presence of co-existing mental illness and substance use disorders is common in the general population, and more common in psychiatric settings and addiction medicine settings.

Studies show that over 50% of psychiatric in-patients will have a substance use disorder, though in over half of these the psychiatric syndrome may be secondary to the substance use. Similarly, over half of those with a drug use disorder will have another form of mental disorder and they are 4.5 times more likely to have a mental disorder than those individuals with no lifetime history of a drug use disorder.

Drug and Alcohol abuse most commonly co-occur with anxiety and depression. The Epidemiological studies found that some drugs abuse has a strong relationship with some psychiatric disorders like; depression, anxiety, antisocial, borderline personalities, social anxiety, schizophrenia and Mood disorders.

Risk factors can contribute to both mental illness and substance use disorders

Many genes that can contribute to the risk of developing both a substance use disorder and a mental illness. Also, environmental factors, such as stress or trauma

The rates of those experiencing a substance use disorder in those with psychiatric disorder:
- Phobic disorder 25%
- Anxiety disorder 30%
- Depressive disorder 30%
- Bipolar disorder 50%
- Schizophrenia 50%
- Antisocial personality disorder 80%

Notice that only a minority of individuals with co-occurring disorders in the community are treated, while those with more severe disorders, multiple co-morbid disorders and high levels of distress are more likely to receive treatment from specialist services.

Co-morbid psychiatric symptoms:

Co-morbid psychiatric symptoms fit broadly into 5 categories:
- Depressive symptoms
- Anxiety symptoms
- Psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder)
- Organic brain syndromes (e.g., cognitive impairment, delirium,
- dementia, amnestic syndrome)
Flashbacks.

Mental illness may be substance induced, related to periods of intoxication or withdrawal.

Substance Induced Mood disorders

It occurs actually when the individual is high on the drug (intoxication) or the person's mood will usually be down within a few days of ceasing to take the drug (withdrawal). It can’t be considered if the person has a history of mania or depression without substance use, or if the symptoms continue for more than a month after the person becomes abstinent from alcohol or drugs.