Reference
Dual Diagnosis Glossary
Plain-language definitions of common terms used across dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorder treatment.
- Co-Occurring Disorder
- The clinical term (preferred by SAMHSA) for having both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time; used interchangeably with "dual diagnosis."
- Dual Diagnosis
- A common, everyday term describing the presence of both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder in the same person at the same time.
- Integrated Treatment
- A treatment model in which one coordinated care team addresses both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder together, rather than through separate, disconnected providers.
- Medical Detox
- Medically supervised management of withdrawal symptoms for someone physically dependent on a substance.
- Residential Treatment
- A live-in level of care providing structured therapy and support around the clock.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- A full-day treatment program, typically five to six hours a day, that does not require an overnight stay.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- A structured outpatient treatment program involving several hours of therapy per week, without requiring a full day of treatment.
- Prior Authorization
- An insurer's requirement to approve a specific treatment or level of care before it's covered.
- Medical Necessity
- An insurer's clinical determination that a specific treatment or level of care is appropriate and required, often based on standardized criteria such as the ASAM Criteria.
- Relapse Prevention
- Ongoing strategies and skills, developed in treatment, aimed at helping someone maintain recovery and respond to warning signs before a full relapse occurs.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- A therapy approach focused on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, commonly used in dual diagnosis treatment.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- A therapy approach focused on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to both mental health symptoms and substance use.
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