ADAPT Mental Health and Co-occurring Disorders 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What term describes having both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time?
- Single diagnosis
- Co-occurring disorder (Correct answer)
- Sequential disorder
- Residual disorder
Correct answer: Co-occurring disorder
Co-occurring disorder (also called dual diagnosis) refers to the simultaneous presence of a substance use disorder and one or more mental health conditions.
Question 2: Which mental health disorder is most commonly found alongside alcohol use disorder?
- Schizophrenia
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Depression (Correct answer)
- Dyslexia
Correct answer: Depression
Depression is the most frequently co-occurring mental health disorder with alcohol use disorder, as alcohol is a depressant that can worsen depressive symptoms.
Question 3: When a person uses alcohol or drugs to cope with anxiety, fear, or emotional pain, this is often called:
- Tolerance building
- Self-medication (Correct answer)
- Detoxification
- Harm reduction
Correct answer: Self-medication
Self-medication refers to using substances to manage symptoms of an underlying mental health disorder rather than seeking proper treatment.
Question 4: Which approach is considered most effective for treating co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders?
- Treating the mental health disorder first, then the addiction
- Treating the addiction first, then the mental health disorder
- Integrated treatment addressing both disorders simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Treating neither until the person is stable
Correct answer: Integrated treatment addressing both disorders simultaneously
Integrated treatment that addresses both the substance use disorder and mental health condition at the same time produces better outcomes than sequential treatment.
Question 5: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is frequently linked with substance use because people with PTSD often:
- Have stronger immune systems
- Use substances to numb traumatic memories and distress (Correct answer)
- Avoid all social situations naturally
- Experience only physical symptoms
Correct answer: Use substances to numb traumatic memories and distress
People with PTSD frequently use alcohol or drugs as a way to numb or avoid the intense emotional pain and intrusive memories associated with their trauma.
Question 6: What percentage of people with serious mental illness are estimated to also have a substance use disorder?
- Less than 5%
- About 15%
- About 50% (Correct answer)
- Nearly 100%
Correct answer: About 50%
Research estimates that approximately 50% of individuals with a serious mental illness also have a co-occurring substance use disorder.
Question 7: Which of the following is a reason why co-occurring disorders are often underdiagnosed?
- Mental health symptoms are always obvious
- Substance use can mask or mimic mental health symptoms (Correct answer)
- Doctors always screen for both conditions
- The conditions never overlap
Correct answer: Substance use can mask or mimic mental health symptoms
Substance use can mask, mimic, or complicate mental health symptoms, making it difficult for clinicians to distinguish between the effects of the substance and an underlying mental disorder.
ADAPT Mental Health and Co-occurring Disorders 1
What term describes having both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time?