Dual Diagnosis

Question 1

what else can dual diagnosis be called?

Answer 1

co-morbidity

co-occurence

Question 2

what does dual diagnosis mean?

Answer 2

more than one diagnosis

- 2 or more health problems (in any category)

Question 3

what is heterotypic dual diagnosis?

Answer 3

a mental and physical disorder

Question 4

what is homotypic dual diagnosis?

Answer 4

2 or more disorders in the same category

eg. 2 mental health disorders

Question 5

what is concurrent

Answer 5

happening at the same time

eg. alcohol dependence and depression

Question 6

what is successive?

Answer 6

happen one after the other

eg. the occurance of one disorder and the likelihood of another coming up later

Question 7

what is the continuum

Answer 7

the range of symptoms from mild to severe disorder

Question 8

when is dual diagnosis mostly applied?

Answer 8

mostly refers to substance issues with mental health

Question 9

why is it useful in this setting between substance and mental health?

Answer 9

allows the establishment of the relationship between them and if one issue is complimenting the other

Question 10

what is the correlation between meth and MH

Answer 10

88% of meth addicts had major depression

30% of meth addicts had experienced psychotic episodes that year

Question 11

mental health disorders and alcohol and drug settings (rehab)

Answer 11

anxiety
depression
personality disorders

Question 12

what substances are common in MH ward?

Answer 12

alcohol
tobacco
some cannabis/amphetamines/heroin

Question 13

why do we see so much tobacco in MH?

Answer 13

stress and coping with symptoms

Question 14

symptoms of depression

Answer 14

• feeling sad
• loss of interest and pleasure
• loss of appetite/weight
• inability to get to sleep or waking up early
• feeling tired all the time
• trouble concentrating
• negative thoughts
• feeling restless

Question 15

how could drugs cause MH problems?

Answer 15

it can interfere with medication
drugs can have a negative impact on your life
long term cannabis use causes depression like symptoms
come downs

Question 16

anxiety symptoms

Answer 16

feeling worried all the time
getting tired easily
unable to concentrate
feeling irritable
irregular HB/palpitations
dizziness
muscle tension or pain

Question 17

how do drugs impact anxiety

Answer 17

depressants- agitation, anxiety, and irritability common features of withdrawal
alcohol- alcohol related problems can create new worries
cannabis- paranoia is a common symptom

Question 18

whats hanxiety

Answer 18

hangover and anxiety combined

Question 19

hangxiety symptoms

Answer 19

brain activity involving dopamine is lower during a hangover
heightened stress during a hangover can also make it difficult for someone to cope with any additional stress
more trouble regulating emotions
worse performance in key aspects of executive functions
people who ‘catastrophise’ pain are more likely to experience anxiety

Question 20

why do we see depression and anxiety in AOD?

Answer 20

relief

having to hide drug habits can impact MH

Question 21

psychosis

Answer 21

reinforcing effect of drugs related to dopamine eg. cannabis

Question 22

psychosis in cannabis

Answer 22

cannabis increases rates of hospitalisation, psychotic relapse and psychotic symptoms

Question 23

psychosis in alcohol

Answer 23

negative symptoms (flat) worse and affects treatment
non-compliance with medication
higher relapse rates

Question 24

psychosis and stimulants

Answer 24

may directly cause psychotic episodes

amphetamine psychosis: brief psychotic reaction that can last weeks eg. picking skin

Question 25

what is formication?

Answer 25

the sensation bugs are crawling under your skin when they dont exist

Question 26

common symptoms to amphetamines?

Answer 26

punding/stereotypy

formication

Question 27

what happens to the mental state when a cocktail of drugs are used?

Answer 27

uppers and downer cycles

can simulated bipolar affective disorder

Question 28

why is dual diagnosis of concern?

Answer 28

greater severity of disorders

• more hallucinations, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation
• relapse risk increased
• rehospitalisation
• effects on medications

Question 29

Schizophrenia pos and neg symptoms

Answer 29

pos
-hallucinations
-delusional thinking
-disorganised speech
neg
-flattened affect
-lack of motivation
-poverty of speech