How Can Inpatient Care Help Someone with Comorbidity?

There are many ways in which attending treatment at an inpatient center can be beneficial for someone with a comorbid disorder in addition to addiction. Call 800-430-1407Who Answers? now to be matched with a rehab center that will benefit your needs.

Inpatient Care is Better for Comorbid Disorders

A comorbid disorder can be any mental disorder that affects your addiction, where both are likely to worsen the other. It can have occurred either as a result of or before you began using drugs, possibly even being one of the reasons you began using them in the first place (National Institute on Drug Abuse). According to a study from the medical journal Psychiatric Quarterly, “Patients with high psychiatric severity and/or a poor social support system are predicted to have a better outcome in inpatient treatment.” Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with addiction as well as any of the following disorders, including:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Any anxiety disorder (PTSD, GAD, phobias, etc.)
• Mania
• Polydrug addiction
• Psychosis

Some inpatient programs offer pet therapy.

inpatient care is likely the right choice for your needs.

How Can Inpatient Care Help Someone With Comorbidity?

This program is much better for an individual with comorbidity for many reasons. First, an individual suffering from two mental disorders at the same time (especially with one of them being addiction) will require treatment for both issues simultaneously (NIDA). This is extremely important because the very nature of both issues can cause an individual who is only treated for one at a time to experience problems from the untreated disorder that could derail recovery from the other.

For example, a person with depression and addiction who is only being treated for their substance abuse could relapse as the result of depressive symptoms that are going untreated. Inpatient centers are often the best choice for this kind of simultaneous care because they offer more treatment options than outpatient centers, including psychological care for issues beyond one’s addiction.

In addition, there are many other ways in which the treatment one receives in inpatient care can help someone with comorbidity.

• Inpatient centers offer 24-hour surveillance by a medical team. This can be extremely helpful because, if a person’s symptoms begin to worsen, the doctors, nurses, and other caregivers in charge of their treatment will be able to take action immediately in order to make sure that they are not harmed and can avoid experiencing trauma as much as possible while in recovery.
• Inpatient programs also offer a controlled environment, in which a patient will not be able to act on any temptation to abuse drugs. Those struggling with two or more comorbid disorders could experience severe side effects if they happened to relapse, which is why many individuals in this situation are better off seeking inpatient care.
• Holistic methods, such as yoga, meditation, animal/pet therapy, massage, acupuncture, and others, have been found to be extremely beneficial for the treatment of both addicts and those suffering from mental disorders. For example, yoga has been found to be especially helpful in the treatment of both anxiety disorders and depression, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. These methods are more likely to be found in inpatient than outpatient facilities, as the former often offers more treatment options because these programs usually have more funding.
• Many people who suffer from both mental disorders and addiction have experienced trauma in their pasts. In fact, some individuals in this situation are still in an environment that could be unfavorable to their recovery and even dangerous. Someone in this situation should absolutely seek inpatient care, as they will be able to be as safe as possible while recovering.

The Connection Between Mental Health and Addiction

Inpatient care can help those suffering from comorbid disorders in many ways, and it is usually the best option for someone in this situation. However, every individual patient is different, and you will require the treatment program that best suits your specific needs. Still, if you see yourself in a condition similar to the ones above, inpatient care could be extremely helpful to you.

Seek Addiction Treatment Today

It is important to find a rehab program that will treat your addiction as well as any other comorbid disorders from which you may be suffering. Call 800-430-1407Who Answers? now to find the best option for your needs and to begin a safe and effective recovery.