Effective treatment for co-occurring disorders has been developed only recently. In the past, treatment professionals failed to understand that treating one disorder would not cause the other disorder to automatically improve. Both disorders need to be treated at the same time, which is called integrated treatment.

In integrated treatment, addiction and mental health services providers work together to develop a single treatment plan to address both disorders. They continue to interact and cooperate to monitor and reassess, if necessary, a patient's progress in recovery.

Effective therapy

Many types of therapy are available, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational psychology, family systems, and group psychology. These therapies are different in their basic approaches, but effective therapies consist of several important practices:

• Discussing substance use: Clinicians asks clients about their substance use throughout treatment.
• Discussing psychiatric symptoms: Clinicians asks clients about their psychiatric symptoms throughout treatment.
• Shared decision making: Clinicians and clients examine problems and goals, and consider interest and strategies for change.
• Client education: Clinicians provide clients with basic information about their disorder and related problems.
• Developing coping skills: Clients learn strategies to minimize their compulsion to use substances and strengthen their relationships and recreational lives.
• Developing peer recovery supports: Clinicians help clients find peer recovery support and fellowship.
• Recovery checkups: Clinicians and clients consider whether ongoing monitoring is needed.

Medications are widely used in the treatment of people with co-occurring disorders. The medications prescribed can play an important role in reducing symptoms and preventing relapses of the psychiatric disorder. Medications can also be useful in minimizing cravings and maintaining abstinence from substances in the addiction.

In order to get the most out of medication, it is important for people to make an informed choice about taking medications, and to understand the potential benefits and costs associated with them. In addition, for people who have decided to use medication in their recovery, it is important to take the medication on a regular basis.

It's also important to understand that taking medication is not substance abuse. Some people in recovery for a substance use disorder may think it is wrong to take any medications. However, a medication that manages one's mood is very different from a drug that alters one's mood.