Dual Diagnosis and Depression
By Jonathan Huttner

What is Depression in a Dual Diagnosis?Dual diagnosis is a condition that is comprised of two components; a psychiatric disorder and drug addiction or alcohol addiction. While many people understand drug addiction or alcoholism, a great deal are confused when it comes to depression. Depression is best described as a mood disorder with a wide range of symptoms such as a loss of pleasure, feelings of worthlessness or suicidal thoughts, The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, lists nine symptoms for major depression, five or more which must be present over the same two-week period, including one of the first two:

1) Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day, or 2) Markedly diminished pleasure. The other seven symptoms include: 3) Significant weight gain or loss, 4) Insomnia or hypersomnia, 5) psychomotor agitation or retardation, 6) Fatigue or loss of energy, 7) Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, 8) Diminished ability to think or concentrate, 9) Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thinking, suicide attempts.Is Depression a person’s fault?Depression is a medical illness which affects brain, which in turn affects the rest of the body. One can no more snap out of depression that one can snap out of diabetes or heart disease. It would help to have a positive outlook, but the very nature of depression is a lack of positive outlook. Unfortunately, having depression still carries a stigma, though not nearly as bad as in the past. If there is any consolation, you are in good company: Winston Churchill and Mike Wallace, just to name a few, all had crushing depressions.The same holds true as it relates to drug addiction and alcoholism. Both of these are diseases, which are diseases of the brain, which can not just be wished away. Drug addiction and alcohol addiction must be treated in conjunction with the psychiatric disorder.

That is why treating a dual disorder or a person with a dual diagnosis is so challenging. Is there more than one type of Depression?Yes, there are several types of depression. Dysthymia, melancholic depression, atypical depression, bipolar depression, psychotic depression, catatonic depression, seasonal affective disorder, and postpartum depression all fall under the category of depression. Along with the emotional aspects of depression, there is also a physical component. Mind and body are very much connected. The risk of heart disease is doubled in people with depression, and a previous depression is often the greatest risk factor for heart disease and other ills, over smoking, drinking, high blood sugar, and previous heart attacks. Depression has also been connected to diabetes, bone loss, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome, and possibly cancer. In addition, people with depression have much higher rates of alcoholism and drug abuse than the general population.According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder. According to the World Health Organization, depression is presently on track to becoming the world's second-most disabling disease (after heart disease) by the year 2020. In addition, depression is responsible for some $87 billion a year in lost productivity in the US (a conservative estimate), and according to Bank One, is responsible for most lost work days in its employees after pregnancy and childbirth.

Additionally, one million people worldwide die by their own hand, most as a result of a mood disorder. Finally, the linkage between depression and a host of physical illnesses makes it arguably the world's greatest killer. Where should I get treatment? If you are suffering from depression and it is part of a dual diagnosis, meaning there is a drug abuse or alcohol abuse problem associated with it, you can look into an addiction treatment program, drug rehab or alcohol rehab. All the above, should have the ability to treat your depression and substance abuse issues. If you do not have a drug addiction or alcohol addiction in conjunction with the depression, than you should in accordance with your attending psychiatrist, locate a psychiatric hospital nearest you.

Take a look at www.lakeviewhealth.com if you are looking for a dual diagnosis treatment program or call 1-800-511-9225

Jonathan Huttner is a principal owner of Lakeview Health Systems, a drug rehab and alcohol rehab with a dual diagnosis treatment component.

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Compulsive Gambling, More Than Just Greed
By Peter Birlea

Most people think that people suffering from gambling problems have an addiction to money. Maybe they are just greedy right? Wrong, compulsive gambling has very little to do with money as most people think. Compulsive gambling is about a feeling that gambling produces for the individual.

Just like any other addiction, a compulsive gambler feels a ‘rush’ or ‘high’ when they have a win. The high that they feel creates a rush of good feelings in their brain that makes them feel great! They feel on top of the world, and life could not be any better. But that high does not last; the feeling only lasts as long as the win, maybe a few seconds, maybe a few days. Either way, the addict will crash again, and feel lower than before, leading them to seek out the next win. This is often called chasing the win.

The addict craves the feeling that is produced when they win, the rush of endorphins that makes them feel great. However, this is not a real feeling; gambling cannot create feel good endorphins in the brain. It can only mimic the feeling, which will lead the individual into a cycle of gambling addiction that will only worsen over time.

Of course, the compulsive gambler enjoys the wins because of the monetary benefit as well .However, the money will not last long, typically a gambling addict is drowning in debt and often has to resort to borrowing or stealing, and often selling possessions to pay the bills or find the next bit of money to gamble with.

Like any addiction, gamblers need their ‘fix’ they need to feel good and to create that feeling. And often they will need to resort to measures that they never would have in order to find the means to that end. 65% of compulsive gamblers will spend time in jail for committing a crime. Why? Because like other addicts, gamblers become desperate to feed their addiction and often resort to illegal activities to accomplish this.

Compulsive gambling needs to be treated like other addictions. Cocaine, alcohol, heroin, are all the same as compulsive gambling. All of these addicts need help to break free from their addictions, they cannot just walk away and quit. Addiction lies much deeper than that.

Peter is the author of Your Life Beyond Gambling" - a completely FREE minicourse that will tell you everything you need to know about "problem" gambling and how to get rid of it. If you or someone you care about is susceptible of having a gambling problem, you can visit Peter's website at http://www.lifebeyondgambling.com for help and advice.

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Understanding Prescription Drug Addiction
By Xavier Gallery

The abuse and addiction of prescription medications is a growing problem in the United States. The FDA recently reported that more than 48 million people have abused prescription drugs at least once in their life. Abuse occurs under a number of different scenarios, and these include exceeding the recommended dosage, use of a drug outside of the prescribed intent, and prolonged usage. In most cases, the victim initially uses the drug within the prescribed manner. The problems tend to arise once the body builds a tolerance to the medication. Victims are then tempted to use higher doses to counteract the tolerance. It is at this point where addictions can be formed leading to physical and behavioral changes with the body.

While all medications have the potential to be abused, three categories of medicines are more likely to induce addiction behavior.

Opioids are drugs prescribed for their pain-relieving qualities. Commonly refereed to as narcotics, they include codeine, morphine, and oxycodone. Opioids work by attaching themselves to opioid receptors and blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Because the body builds up a tolerance to opioids, abusers often have to consume increasing quantities to achieve their desired effect. Long-term abuse of opioid prescriptions can lead to significant withdraw symptoms (dizziness, vomiting, sweating, etc).

CNS depressants are used to alleviate anxiety and sleep disorder symptoms. The most commonly prescribed CNS depressants are diazepam, alprazolam, and pentobarbital sodium. These drugs interact with the body by decreasing the activity of the brain in order to produce a calming or drowsy effect. Long-term abuse of CNS depressants can lead to a physical dependence that can be dangerous to brain activity if the drug is withdrawn.

Another commonly abused category of drugs are stimulants. These drugs are prescribed to increase brain activity. Stimulants increase a family of brain neurotransmitters called monoamines, which in turn increases body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose production. The effects of these drugs can create a psychological dependence for the user. Consistent abuse can cause dangerous side effects such as paranoia, cardiovascular failure, and seizures.

The key to treating prescription drug abuse is to recognize the problem signs. Doctors and pharmacists must be keen observers of any sporadic activity by their patients. This can include abnormal refill cycles, prolonged symptom complaints, and incessant requests for additional medication. Friends and family members can also play an important role in early detection. Identifying behavioral changes and a perceived reliance on medication are reasons to be concerned. If you are unable to confront the victim directly, report the behavior to their doctor or pharmacist.

More information on this topic can be found at http://prescriptionaddiction.info

Xavier writes for a number of informative websites concerning health care and weight loss. You can read more tips and resources at Prescription Addiction.info and Experimental Medicines

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