Is Alcoholism a Mental Illness? Yes, Here’s Why

AUD in the United States] This large treatment gap allows clinicians to diagnose a prevalent medical condition with devastating health and societal consequences. Previous systematic reviews have explored alcohol misuse and CMD in both directions; for example, the prevalence of CMD among those misusing alcohol 28 and the prevalence of alcohol misuse among those with a CMD 11. The latter was most recently reported by Lai and colleagues, is alcoholism a mental illness where those with an anxiety disorder or major depression were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report alcohol abuse and 2.5 and three times more likely to report dependence, respectively 11.

Where can I get more scientific information on comorbid substance use disorder, mental illness, and medical conditions?

After over 15 years of developing expertise and leading strong clinical teams in the mental health field, she pivoted to apply her deep knowledge of mental health in Sober living house the tech industry. Individual Therapy – Therapists specializing in alcohol addiction treatment can provide a safe and confidential space to explore the underlying causes of alcohol misuse, develop helpful coping strategies, and work toward sustainable change. Therapists can also offer referrals and recommendations for when other levels of care are needed. When seeking professional support for alcohol addiction, various avenues are available to assist individuals on their journey to recovery. Caring for someone with Alcohol Use Disorder can have devastating impacts on a person’s emotional and mental well-being. These family members and friends must prioritize their self-care practices and seek support, including therapy and support groups such as Al-Anon.

Links to NCBI Databases

To begin, the establishment of non-abstinent indicators of recovery may foster greater acceptance of harm reduction, both in philosophy and in practice. The U.S. has been slow to adopt many evidence-based harm reduction strategies including syringe service programs 30, fentanyl testing strips 31, 32, and overdose prevention sites 33. Where non-abstinent recovery gains can be realized and measured, the benefits of non-abstinent recovery and/or harm reduction may be more palatable to providers and the general public.

Substance Use Treatment Centers vs. Addiction Treatment Centers

If they use alcohol before bedtime, and especially if they shift their sleep timing on weekends compared to weekdays, they may have chronic circadian misalignment. If they report daytime sleepiness, one possible cause is alcohol-induced changes in sleep physiology. In terms of cognitive functioning, there was little variability in terms of responses as participants endorsed all four domains as “important” or “very important” to recovery. Even though the open-ended questions asked about non-drug-related recovery outcomes, it is worth noting that participants clarified that their concern was ultimately drug-related. This was especially true for cognitive functioning domains, which were tied directly to drug use.

Substance use-related recovery outcomes

Similarly, Laudet (2007) found that although most participants defined recovery as total abstinence, they also suggested that recovery is marked by improvements in biomedical and psychosocial outcomes. And although 93% identified as being in recovery in this sample, 68% indicated a need for treatment for their methamphetamine use. This dissonance may reflect further disagreement over the definition of recovery.

Understanding Alcohol Drinking Patterns

• Publication of the DSM–IV marked the first time that clinicians could specifically diagnose several “alcohol-induced disorders” rather than having to lump alcohol-related conditions under the more generic rubric of an “organic mental syndrome” (Anthenelli 1997).
• Youth may also resort to substances as a coping mechanism, isolating themselves from supportive relationships.
• When patients have sleep-related concerns such as insomnia, early morning awakening, or fatigue, it is wise to screen them for heavy alcohol use and assess for AUD as needed.
• This leads to heightened symptoms, greater distress, and an increased desire to experience symptom alleviation.

We found associations between AUD and CMD regardless of the type of CMD and severity of AUD. It may be that individuals with a CMD may use alcohol to enhance positive affect and cope with symptoms of poor mental health. Further qualitative and longitudinal research is required to understand the reasons why those with a CMD use alcohol. Polysubstance use is common, and many people develop multiple comorbid substance use disorders (Table 1). For example, among people with a heroin use disorder over 66 percent are dependent on nicotine, nearly 25 percent have an alcohol use disorder, and over 20 percent have a cocaine use disorder.

The Psychological Burden of Substance Abuse

This is particularly compelling for SSRIs (e.g., citalopram/escitalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline), SNRIs (e.g., venlafaxine), and SARIs (e.g., trazodone). The evidence gap applies to SUDs with or without “co-morbid” diagnoses of depression or anxiety. This method focuses on dealing with the root causes of the symptoms, leading to better long-term results for both mental health and substance use. Discover when it’s time to seek mental health treatment and how to navigate the journey confidently. Discover why swimming is beneficial during addiction recovery, promoting physical health and psychological well-being. Additionally, addiction itself can modify personality traits, increasing feelings of paranoia, anxiety, or depression.

• Forest plots and tables were generated to present the pooled prevalence, ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
• SAMHSA envisions that people with, affected by, or at risk for mental health and substance use conditions receive care, achieve well-being, and thrive.
• We overcame this by exploring differences in associations between the severity of AUD and type of CMD, as well as the continent and decade in which the study was conducted.
• These findings are consistent with those of other studies suggesting that individuals with depression, anxiety disorder, and bulimia nervosa are at increased risk of drinking at unhealthy levels (Martins and Gorelick, 2011; Udo and Grilo, 2019).
• You can search for an empathetic mental health professional using our Healthline FindCare tool to get more information and help finding the right treatment for you.
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Binge drinking among those with and without a CMD

American Addiction Centers (AAC) operates several facilities across the U.S., providing multiple levels of care and specialized treatment tracks for specific demographics, such as Veterans, LGBTQ+, and more. Rates of substance use, addiction, and related issues vary by age, gender, ethnicity, and other demographic classifications. Understanding the comprehensive range of harms caused by regularly drinking too much emphasizes the importance of seeking support if needed. But knowing when to reach out and what types of support are available can be confusing. Alcohol misuse or Alcohol abuse – Excessive and harmful use of alcohol involving behaviors that have negative consequences, such as neglecting responsibilities, experiencing legal issues, or otherwise causing harm to oneself or others.

• There was also limited reporting of group characteristics among those with and without a CMD, which may explain some of the heterogeneity.
• Alcohol Use Disorder, like many other addictive disorders, is a multifaceted condition.
• Third, by knowing that the clinician will be talking to a family member, the patient may be more likely to offer more accurate information.
• Withdrawing from alcohol use disorder leads to several uncomfortable side effects, with a common one being sleep disturbances…
• Data were weighted using the method of iterative proportional fitting so as to represent the US civilian population (Battaglia et al., 2009).

What are co-occurring disorders or health conditions?

Moreover, tolerance to alcohol can increase alcohol intake, which in turn may exacerbate sleep symptoms. During pregnancy, alcohol use increases the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which refers to the collective lifelong physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments that occur due to prenatal alcohol exposure. For older adults, clues to a possible alcohol problem may include memory loss, depression, anxiety, poor appetite, unexplained bruises, falls, sleeping problems, and inattention to cleanliness or appearance. If you are concerned about your own drinking patterns https://ecosoberhouse.com/ or those of a loved one, talk to a health care provider.

Overview of Alcohol Use Disorder

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples, including the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), the Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations, and on the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) territory of the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. Explore if addiction is genetic and how this knowledge can guide treatment and prevention strategies. Discover how to overcome burnout after you’ve burnt out, from recognizing symptoms to strategies for recovery.