Life is difficult enough if you have one mental health disorder, but having comorbid ones makes it even more challenging. Comorbidity, which means having more than one mental illness, can strike anyone. It makes it difficult to function and can hamper a person’s ability to find structured care that addresses both of their conditions.
Montare Behavioral Health in Tucson understands how to treat comorbid disorders under one roof at the same time. We save people valuable time and money while they work on both conditions simultaneously. Our residential program creates a cozy environment that allows people to relax and focus on their treatment plan.
What Does Comorbid Mean?
The term comorbid was originally coined in the 1970s to mean having more than one physical ailment or disease. Dr. A.R. Feinstein was the first to use it, but it has since come to include the presence of two or more mental health disorders. This can include any number of combinations of mental illnesses and is more common than many people might suspect. For example, someone with an anxiety disorder might also have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). They might have depression and an eating disorder.
Comorbid can also mean having both a physical illness and a mental illness. For example, someone might have depression along with diabetes. A combination of a mental illness and a substance use disorder falls under the heading of comorbidity and is also referred to as a dual diagnosis.
Statistics on People with Comorbid Mental Disorders
While many people are familiar with comorbidity, they may not realize how prevalent it is. What percentage of people have at least one comorbid condition? First, 46.4%, or almost half, of people will develop at least one mental health disorder during their lives. About 27.7%, or just over one in four, will end up with comorbid disorders. Finally, approximately 17.3% of people end up having three or more comorbid disorders.
A person who has one mental health condition that remains untreated increases their chances of developing another one. As well, someone with comorbidity has an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions. In addition, a study showed that three out of four people who have a high risk for developing psychosis also endure having a comorbid mental illness. This makes it vital to seek treatment as soon as possible.
People with comorbid disorders are also more likely to be hospitalized for one or more of the disorders than people with just one illness.
What Are the Common Comorbid Mental Health Disorders?
Someone seeking treatment for comorbid conditions can have two or more of the following:
- PTSD
- Complex Trauma
- Anxiety disorder
- Depression
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Mood disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Dual diagnosis
An interview with the individual seeking treatment will determine the history and severity of their symptoms. This helps the clinician make a proper diagnosis of which comorbid disorders they have.
How Are They Treated?
An initial assessment of a person arriving for treatment for comorbidity will help determine which types of therapy offer the most promise for them. Which disorders they have will also influence the decision. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people reframe how they think, feel, and react to certain stimuli. From there, they can develop healthier ways to cope and reduce their symptoms.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can also help reduce a person’s tendency to use self-harm behaviors and work on replacing them with healthy coping skills. Motivational Interviewing helps many people with comorbid disorders. This type of therapy helps people who initially lack the motivation to change their behaviors because they feel stuck and unmotivated. They learn how to become self-motivated and make better choices that influence their ability to recover from multiple disorders.
People who participate in group therapy reap the benefits of peer support and learn that they are not alone in their challenges. Family therapy can also bring positive results. A therapist leads family members in discussions about how the comorbid disorders have affected the family. From there, they learn how to communicate more effectively and how best to support their loved ones.
Finally, many people with comorbid disorders explore the usage of prescription medications. The right ones can help ease their symptoms and allow them the ability to concentrate on their therapy and make progress.
Contact Montare Tucson for Treatment
Have you just started to come to terms with the fact that you have comorbid mental health disorders? Maybe you’ve known for some time but haven’t found a program skilled at treating people with this condition. Montare Behavioral Health in Tucson has extensive experience treating people with comorbidity with compassion and respect. Our beautiful residential facility is a haven for people who need to get away from the stressors and triggers of daily living and work on healing their mental health. We provide the most modern types of therapy and access to helpful prescription medications.
Contact us to find out more about how we treat comorbid disorders. Our staff is happy to answer your questions and show you how easy it is to get started on the path to feeling better.
