Bipolar and Substance Abuse: The Dual-Diagnosis Client

The concept of a client having both a Substance Abuse Disorder (SAD) as well as a mental disorder is becoming more prevalent with 25 to 33% of all mental health patients considered dual-diagnosed [1]. While counselors are equipped to address one of the disorders in clients readily, the comorbidity creates difficulty in best meeting the client’s needs. The combination of Bipolar and Substance Abuse Disorder in an individual creates two key focal areas to address in counseling that may actually conflict with the other, or in some cases, one disorder may instigate the other. A need exists for both assessments and treatments that address this comorbidity combination. The concept of a client having both a substance abuse disorder as well as a mental disorder becoming more prevalent with 25 to 33% of all mental health patients considered dual-diagnosed [1]. The psychiatric textbooks based their findings on little data and clinical lore [2]. Soon after, epidemiological studies were done on both substance abuse clients as well as those with mental disorders. The studies determined that not only was dual-diagnosis more prevalent, but also that a large number of those that have a mental disorder also have issues with substance use [2]. There are many disorders that can be combined with those that suffer from a substance use disorder (SUD) including eating disorders, gambling, compulsive shopping, and sexual disorders, as well has other physical and psychological disorders. In this paper, the disorders of bipolar and substance abuse will be identified, but also, attention will be given to the comorbid client that suffers from both disorders and potential treatment for this individual.