Primary Care Continued Care Extended Care
Mood Disorders PDF Print E-mail

ARC, West Los Angeles  California

NOTE: If a dual-diagnosed client is referred to ARC through an associate professional or agency the ARC clinical team will provide treatment in clinical continuity with the referring professional.

A mood disorder is a condition characterized by an individuals prevailing emotional mood being distorted or inappropriate to the present circumstances.

Common mood disorders treated by ARC are:

  • Depression (or unipolar depression)
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Panic disorder

All these conditions present significant challenges for people in who they are diagnosed but particularly so when these issues are co-occurring with addiction or substance abuse. All of these disorders are treatable with individual therapy or medication. In some cases proper treatment requires both individual therapy and medication.

When clients enroll with ARC treatment focuses first on providing onsite medical detoxification services. Once this period has concluded effective diagnostic measures determine what possible co-occurring conditions are present. (Establishing a sober baseline prior to diagnosis for any co-occurring conditions is important because withdrawal symptoms are often characterized by indications of a co-occurring mood disorder.)

If a client is determined to have a co-occurring mood disorder then ARC will provide integrated care to treat both the co-occurring conditions and the substance abuse. The ARC clinical team works in unison with each dual diagnosed individual to create personalized treatment plans. These plans help clients implement a sustainable foundation in addiction recovery while individual therapy imparts new coping mechanisms that serve to support clients in prevailing over the day-to-day trials of living with a co-occurring mood disorder. Concurrently, the medical team (physicians and psychiatrists) provides pharmacological reinforcement through helpful medications and/or medication management. Within these guidelines treatment with ARC represents a comprehensive clinical approach that supports clients with co-occurring conditions in achieving and sustaining long-lasting addiction recovery.

Co-occurring mood disorders often take time to overcome. The ARC treatment spectrum consists of three levels of care that together represent a 90-day continuum of residential rehab. In cases where more than 30 days of treatment are appropriate clients may transition from primary care into Phase 2 Continuing Care and Phase 3 Extended Care.

These programs are designed to meet the continuing clinical and transitional needs of clients with co-occurring mood disorders.

If you or someone you know needs comprehensive treatment effective in treating both substance abuse and mood disorders call 877 415 HOPE today. Our credentialed staff will answer any questions you might have. (More information about mood disorders is outlined below.)

Depression

ARC treats depression in early recovery with both psychotherapeutic medication and individual therapy. Our treatment philosophy supports clients in understanding the underlying issues that have contributed both to the addictive process and the co-existing feelings of depression. Depression can often be perpetuated by negative patterns of addictive behavior. A component of treatment with ARC is to “jump start” clients into a lifestyle of recovery where new actions will begin to alleviate depression and increase a sense of positive self-esteem. In essence, the action-oriented ARC treatment curriculum replaces a prior sense of emptiness with feelings of accomplishment and personal fulfillment, two crucial elements often missing from the lives of people suffering from depression.

Common Symptoms of Depression

  • Feeling sad or miserable
  • Feeling exhausted a lot of the time
  • Feeling overly anxious sometimes
  • Feeling angry or irritable more than usual
  • Feeling there is no future
  • Feeling that life is unfair
  • Social interactions seem challenging or impossible
  • Lack of clarity
  • Feeling that even small tasks are impossible
  • Feeling like life isn’t worth living
  • Feeling like a failure much of the time
  • Feeling guilty for no apparent reason
  • Feeling like nothing is enjoyable anymore
  • Comfort eating to excess
  • Feeling there is no hope
  • Feeling a lack of confidence
  • Focuses on what has gone wrong in life
  • Unable to see solutions to life’s problems
  • Having a difficult time sleeping or sleeping more than usual

Depression is a challenging condition that is complicated by post-acute withdrawal symptoms during early recovery. This is because the physiology associated with post-acute withdrawal intensifies feelings of depression through their accumulative effect.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms that Effect Depression:

  • Fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Cravings
  • Sleeplessness
  • Stress sensitivity
  • Memory problems
  • Coordination problems
  • Inability to think clearly

Medication Can Help Alleviate Depression in Early Recovery

When clients enroll with ARC and it is determined that depression is co-occurring with substance abuse it is often helpful to provide medications that can alleviate the intensity of the depression. These medications act as a stepping stone towards creating a foundation in recovery. The ARC medical/clinical interface helps each client understand the pros and cons of beginning these medications so that an informed decision can be made.

All the psychotherapeutic medications utilized by ARC for depression are non-narcotic and non-habit forming. Some of these include:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s)
  • Tricyclic (TCA’s) and heterocyclic antidepressants
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s)

Individual Therapy and Depression

Individual therapy is an important element in treating depression and depending on each person’s historical experiences certain therapeutic approaches might be more helpful than others. The therapeutic variety offered by ARC ensures clients that clinical treatment will be personalized to meet their unique experiences and present needs.

Some of the individual methodologies utilized by the treatment team are:

  • Grief Therapy
  • Trauma Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy
  • Reflective Therapy
  • Analytical Therapy
  • Insight-Based Therapy
  • Reason-Based Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

The basic purpose of utilizing individual therapy in treating depression is to:

  • Identify and change thought patterns that contribute to depression
  • Determine whether trauma or conflicts earlier in life have created depression
  • Normalize the feelings stemming from depression
  • Examine how depression can be exasperated or caused by troubling emotional relationships

ARC treats depression in a way that works for each client. Clinical variety allows each person to get the help they need for resolution of past and present circumstances and also treats each person in a receivable manner that falls within the framework of their personal belief systems. If you or someone you know might be dual-diagnosed with addiction and depression call 877 415 HOPE today. Our credentialed staff will answer any further questions you have.

Bipolar Disorder

NOTE: If a dual-diagnosed client is referred to ARC through an associate professional or agency the ARC clinical team will provide treatment in clinical continuity with the referring professional.

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness and is a brain disorder. Bipolar disorder causes “unusual” shifts in mood, energy and ability to function. Bipolar disorder is treatable and people who are diagnosed and treated effectively can lead full and productive lives.

Although many people have “ups and downs” bipolar disorder represents a characterization of these symptoms that is globally much more severe. Symptoms of bipolar disorder often lead to personal, inter-relational and social challenges that can include:

  • Damaged relationships
  • Poor job or school performance
  • Suicide (approximately 15% risk of death by suicide)

Bipolar disorder is a condition that runs in families but studies have shown it has a complex mode of inheritance. Genetics have shown to play a role in developing Bipolar disorder but evidence quantifying this fact is somewhat inconclusive. Bipolar disorder equally affects both sexes and its worldwide prevalence is approximated to be 3-5%. Racial groups do not factor into the prevalence of bipolar disorder. In essence, anyone can develop the condition.

Research is now showing that this disorder is associated with abnormal brain levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Because post-acute withdrawal symptoms can produce abnormal levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, people who suffer from substance abuse will often show signs of bipolar-like symptoms during early recovery. However, in many cases these symptoms will subside over time as medications and individual therapy work in conjunction to alleviate these bipolar-like characteristics.

To prevent improper diagnosis ARC focuses treatment first on providing onsite medical detoxification services. Once this period has concluded and a sober baseline has been established effective diagnostic measures determine what possible co-occurring conditions are present.

Medication and Individual Therapy Can Help with Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Medications can help with the treatment of bipolar disorder. Medications utilized in effective treatment of the condition fall into three categories:

  • Mood stabilizers
  • Antipsychotic medications
  • Antidepressant medications

The first step to determining what medications may prove most helpful is to complete a psychiatric evaluation after onsite medical detoxification has concluded. As a component of the ARC treatment curriculum, each client is assigned a primary clinician who will develop their personalized treatment plan. This plan is designed to address the individual clinical needs of the client based on their personal history and present circumstances and to document the success any prescribed medications are having on the bipolar symptoms. Each client has unique circumstances and experiences related to; the development of bipolar disorder, the consequences of the bipolar condition and the damage caused by the addictive process. Individual therapy is an effective tool that serves to support clients with bipolar disorder cope with these varying circumstances.

Some of the Individual Methodologies Utilized by ARC are:

  • Grief Therapy
  • Trauma Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy
  • Reflective Therapy
  • Analytical Therapy
  • Insight-Based Therapy
  • Reason-Based Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Phase 1 Primary Care combines medication management and individual therapy with group therapy, substance abuse counseling and experiential therapy to create an effective treatment approach for dual diagnosis clients living with bipolar disorder.

Although people with bipolar disorder who are also suffering from addiction can go on to lead productive, successful recovering lifestyles it does often take time to practice living sober through the “highs and lows” of early recovery. To support each clients ongoing clinical and transitional needs ARC offers the opportunity for enrollment in Phase 2 Continuing Care and Phase 3 Extended Care. These programs are designed as a safe place for clients to continue the process of difficult emotional issues while practicing new recovery philosophies. (When clients are bipolar it is highly recommended that the entire 90-day ARC treatment is completed)

If you or someone you know might be suffering from bipolar disorder and substance abuse call 877 415 HOPE today. Our credentialed staff will answer any questions you have about ARC or help you understand more about treatment for dual diagnosed individuals.