Treatment for Alcohol Abuse and Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymic Disorder is a chronic form of depression has some of the same symptoms as Major Depressive Disorder. People with Dysthymic Disorder are at a higher risk for alcohol dependency compared to the general population and even compared to those with alcohol dependency. When two disorders or illnesses occur simultaneously in the same person, they are called “comorbid”. The existence of an alcohol addiction abuse disorder combined with a psychiatric disorder may also be referred to as a “dual diagnosis” or “co-occurring” disorders.  Surveys show that alcohol abuse and other psychiatric disorders are more often comorbid than not.  In fact, the exception is the person who has only an alcohol addiction disorder and the typical case is one where both a substance abuse and psychiatric disorder co-exist.  If someone has an alcohol abuse disorder, odds are that they also have a psychiatric disorder.  In order to increase the chances of a successful recovery, both the psychiatric and substance abuse disorders need to be treated.  People with Dysthymic Disorder, characterized by a chronically depressed mood, may try to self-medicate by drinking alcohol to feel better.  Unfortunately, this often only further complicates the number of problems that need to be addressed.

Many people know of Major Depressive Disorder, which is commonly referred to as depression or clinical depression, but the topic of different types of depression is not as widely known. There is a type of depression known as Dysthymic Disorder (DD) that is a low grade, but chronic depression, characterized by more than two years of a depressed mood. Dysthymic disorder, due to its’ persistence and chronicity, can be extremely debilitating.  People who have Dysthymia are at a high risk of alcohol abuse, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than people without depression.

Often times Dysthymic Disorder does not get diagnosed or treated until there is also a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, which leaves the person in a state referred to as “double depression”, in addition to alcoholism. Alcohol addiction treatment will be more effective if the Dysthymic Disorder is also treated at the same time as the alcoholism. Alcohol addiction treatment must include treatment for the depressive disorder in addition to alcohol addiction treatment for a successful recovery.

Many of the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction and Dysthymia overlap so treatment is complicated. Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program share many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our substance abuse treatment program also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse treatment and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.