Is Alcoholism Considered a Mental Illness?

For individuals struggling to pin their illness on a single cause, exploring adual diagnosiscould be the key to moving forward. However, it may be driven by a host of other health problems, including mental illness. This combination presents a diagnostic challenge even to well-trained clinicians who deal with a wide spectrum of cases. Vertava Health offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. Someone who has 2 to 3 of these symptoms may be diagnosed with ‘mild’ AUD. Moderate alcohol use disorder requires the presence of 4 to 5 symptoms, and severe AUD requires the presence of 6 or more.

• Until more liquor is consumed or acquired, an alcoholic usually becomes obsessively preoccupied with the thought of drinking alcohol.
• In short, theneedfor addictive substances becomes hardwired in the brain, to the point that the brain can’t distinguish between healthy rewards and drug rewards.
• Alcoholism is considered a disease that progresses in three stages, starting with problematic drinking and ending in obsessive alcohol abuse.
• Osher FC, Kofoed LL. Treatment of patients with psychiatric and psychoactive substance abuse disorders.
• During the severe alcohol abuse stage, alcoholics become even more physically and psychologically dependent on liquor.
• We do offer affordable self-pay and financing options, so reach out and get started on your journey to lasting recovery.

Definitions of other terms used in this article can be found in the glossary, p. 86. Call our 24-hour confidential helpline to speak with a recovery expert. When this happens, their first instinct is typically to start drinking again so they will feel better, thus starting the cycle over again.

Renewal Center for Ongoing Recovery

At FHE Health, we’re committed to treating the full range of illnesses and getting patients back to long-term health, whether their struggles began or worsened when they drink alcohol. Our treatment program is designed to support the physical and mental healthof those suffering beyond their mental illness. Feelings of depression are common in those who struggle with alcoholism, affecting about 80 percent of alcoholics at some point during their experience of addiction. People who abuse alcohol, or have a history of previous alcohol dependence, may also be four times more likely to experience a major depressive episode than those who do not abuse alcohol. According to the National Institutes of Health, those who struggle with alcohol abuse maybe three to four times more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at some point in their life. Some of these anxiety disorders include panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder , and social phobia.

If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol dependence, having a thorough comprehension of the condition can help you get the proper support to face the substance use disorder head on. At Northbound Treatment, we offer fully integrated alcohol and drug recovery programs at our treatment centers based in the Orange County region of California. Keep reading for more information on how alcohol addiction affects the brain, the stages of alcoholism, and the mental health conditions that often occur in conjunction with the disease.

Does the medical community recognize alcoholism as a disease?

According to theNational Institutes of Health , three mental disorders most commonly comorbid with alcoholism are major depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder. Less frequently co-diagnosed with alcoholism is post-traumatic stress disorder , dependent personality disorder and conduct disorder. According to the DSM criteria, persistent alcohol use resulting in social, vocational, psychological, or physical problems should be considered abuse or dependence. This definition has several implications for diagnosing AOD-use disorders in severely mentally ill patients. Moreover, clinicians must be aware that in many patients with apparent dual diagnoses, AOD use may have induced the second psychiatric disorder (Lehman et al. 1994). Although one is tempted to regard AUD as the cause of the above-mentioned social and psychological problems, many additional factors may contribute to poor adjustment. For example, alcohol-abusing patients with mental disorders also are prone to abuse other potentially more toxic drugs, to be noncompliant with medications, and to live in stressful circumstances without strong support networks (Drake et al. 1989).

• It is important to realize that while some individuals are open and honest about their well-being, others may deny having a problem at all.
• SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.
• This is when many individuals suffering from alcoholism start to experience relationship issues, avoid their responsibilities, withdraw from friends and family, and become secretive.
• Kovasznay B. Substance abuse among veterans with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
• These plans incorporate various therapies and aftercare programs that address both alcohol abuse and a mental health condition.
• The current edition, DSM-5, classifies alcoholism, now referred to as Alcohol Use Disorder or Substance Use Disorder , as a mental disorder presenting both physical and mental symptoms.

1The term “alcohol-use disorder” used in this article encompasses alcohol abuse and dependence as defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM–IV). The terms “alcohol-use disorder” and “alcohol abuse” are used interchangeably in this article. The definitions for these terms vary among the studies reviewed and frequently are based on earlier editions of the DSM.

How Alcohol Affects the Brain

For example, men and women with alcohol dependence and independent major depressive episodes have been found to have an increased likelihood of having a family history of major mood disorders (Schuckit et al. 1997a). Similar findings have is alcoholism a mental illness been obtained for alcohol–dependent bipolar patients (Preisig et al. 2001). Thus, a family history of a major psychiatric disorder other than alcoholism in an individual may increase the likelihood of that patient having a dual diagnosis.

A lack of sleep can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and depression, so try to get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep a night. Start the day right with breakfast, and continue with frequent small meals throughout the day.