Is Alcoholism a Mental Illness?

The ties between alcoholism and mental illness are enforced by the many psychological, biological, and social components involved with AUD cases. The drug-only group had approximately 44% personality, 28% mood, and 24% anxiety disorders. An integrated treatment model including CBT for panic disorder along with the treatment for alcohol use disorder found better outcomes for both anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder. The one-year prevalence rate of anxiety disorders among those with alcohol dependence in the general population has been reported to be 36.9%. A systematic review of psychosocial treatment strategies for co-occurring alcohol addiction and depression reported integrated treatment to be better for alcohol and depression. Additionally, the risk of developing a depressive disorder and bipolar disorder is 3.9 and 6.3 times higher among those with alcohol dependence as compared to those without it. The rate of co-occurrence of mood disorders and alcohol dependence is high.

• Individuals with an alcohol dependence have 2.6 times higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder as compared to those without alcohol dependence.
• Programs that specialize in co-occurring disorders provide various types of therapy aimed at treating the whole person, rather than just addressing one disorder at a time.
• Specialists at an alcohol addiction rehab center realize that time is of the essence now.
• Stabilization, often with medications, and at times hospitalization, is also a crucial first step in addressing co-occurring mental health disorders.
• However, he felt reassured by the clinician’s explanation that the sleep disturbance was likely a remnant of his heavy drinking that should continue to improve with prolonged abstinence.

The DSM is an authoritative guide that mental health professionals in the US use to diagnose mental health disorders. Research finds brain deficits, genetics, or experience of trauma in early life may increase the risk for both mental illness and addiction. Over time, continued, heavy use of alcohol triggers the brain to rewire pathways to its pleasure and reward center. Eventually, the user may be unable to achieve a sense of well-being without the use of alcohol. Similarly, a person with a mental illness who is using alcohol to mask negative emotions may come to rely on alcohol to feel “normal,” at least briefly. Even though the American Medical Association identified alcohol addiction as a chronic medical disease in 1956, alcohol addiction continues to be viewed by many as a weakness or moral failure. Corse SJ, Hirschinger NB, Zanis D. The use of the Addiction Severity Index with people with severe mental illness.

Help with Mental Illness and Alcohol Addiction

Mental illness and alcohol use disorder often go hand-in-hand.1 When they co-occur, each condition may influence the course of the other, regardless of which may have developed first. If left untreated, these co-occurring disorders could result in both an exacerbation of mental health symptoms or lead to increased drinking or other types of substance misuse. Luckily, effective treatment for AUD and co-occurring mental health disorders can be available. The mental health problems that most commonly co-occur with substance abuse are depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Alcohol and drug abuse can make symptoms of a mental health problem worse. Substance abuse may sharply increase symptoms of mental illness or even trigger new symptoms.

Bipolar disorder makes people cycle through “down” moods and “up” moods. Bipolar depression and bipolar mania are much more severe than depression or anxiety when they are presented as standalone mental illnesses. Dopamine is linked to feelings of euphoria, pleasure and improved mood. When a depressed person drinks alcohol, they feel temporary relief from depression and sadness. However, after intoxication wanes, their depression comes roaring back. In addition, alcoholism develops rapidly as the brain demands regular surges of dopamine and euphoria.

Alcohol Abuse And Co-occurring Mental Disorders

Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, health insurance providers are legally required to cover treatment costs for alcoholism since it falls under the categories of both substance abuse and mental health disorders. Numerous studies have shown that AOD-use disorders typically are underdiagnosed in acute-care psychiatric settings (Drake et al. 1993a).

The manic phase of bipolar disorder disorder makes people feel incredibly anxious and agitated. They can’t slow down racing thoughts or control impulsive behavior that often creates relationship and financial difficulties.

What Are My Options For Getting Help For Alcoholism?

The production of this chemical often reinforces behaviors, both healthy and unhealthy. If the result of a particular behavior is a rush of dopamine, the person exhibiting the behavior is likely to repeat it to feel that rush. With AUD the brain loses the ability to distinguish between dopamine rewards for healthy behavior and rewards for drug or alcohol use, leading to increased substance abuse. Uncontrollable alcohol cravings lead to mental health issues, in this stage, such as irritability, aggression, depression, and anxiety. The issues that began in the problematic drinking stage evolve in this stage to further affect the user’s life, relationships, and overall health. Physical health and is considered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be among the top four preventable causes of chronic illness, alongside tobacco use, lack of physical activity, and poor nutrition.

The progression of alcoholism can be very subtle, often taking place over years or even decades. Once the condition becomes apparent, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly when an alcoholic lost control. And yet, understanding the stages of alcohol use disorder can help you determine whether you or a loved one has a problem and how to help an alcoholic on the journey to recovery. The stages include problematic drinking, severe alcohol abuse, and obsessive alcohol abuse. Stabilization–Detoxfrom alcohol or other drugs can be uncomfortable and, when unsupervised, even life-threatening. Addiction treatment providers should provide medical observation during the detox process—as well as medication—to ease the discomfort of withdrawal and cravings.

Is Alcoholism Considered a Mental Illness?

At that time, the patient had been transferred to the hospital’s alcoholism treatment unit after 2 weeks, where he had learned some of the principles that had led to his longest abstinence of 18 months. Recognizing that this was an emergency situation and that alcoholics have an increased rate of suicide , the emergency room clinician admitted the patient to the acute psychiatric ward is alcoholism a mental illness for an evaluation. The clinician also obtained the patient’s permission to speak with his wife. Despite the patient’s denial of alcoholism, this interview with a collateral informant corroborated the clinician’s suspicion that the man had long–standing problems with alcohol that dated back to his mid–20s. Laboratory tests showing an elevated GGT level supported the diagnosis.

• In 2013, the release of the fifth edition of the DSM referred to as the DSM-5, changed the previously listed diagnoses of ‘alcohol abuse’ and ‘alcohol dependence’ by merging them into one diagnosis of alcohol use disorder.
• Some programs, for example, may have experience treating depression or anxiety, but not schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
• Although one is tempted to regard AUD as the cause of the above-mentioned social and psychological problems, many additional factors may contribute to poor adjustment.
• It’s fair to say that an alcohol use disorder is a complicated disease.
• A dual diagnosis is best treated under the care of medical professionals in a rehab setting.

Some programs, for example, may have experience treating depression or anxiety, but not schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Abused substances include prescription medications , recreational or street drugs , and alcohol . A substance abuse problem is not defined by what drug you use or the type of alcohol you drink, though. Rather, it comes down to the effects your drug or alcohol use has on your life and relationships. In short, if your drinking or drug use is causing problems in your life, you have a substance abuse problem.