How are Antipsychotic Medications Used To Treat Co-Occurring Disorders?
Antipsychotic medications are often used to treat mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder (e.g., manic depressive), and Schizophrenia. Medication can treat but cannot cure the disorder. Side effects from antipsychotic medications vary with the individual and the medication.
Co-occurring disorders are identified as dual diagnosis because the illness involves a mental disorder (e.g., depression and anxiety) and a substance abuse problem (e.g., drugs, alcohol, or both). Each addiction poses a unique set of issues in and of itself, which when combined creates a complex problem best handled by an addiction specialist trained in dual diagnosis and pharmacology.