Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders

Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders

Dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders are psychiatric disorders that are occurring along with substance abuse or substance dependence disorders. More than half of people experiencing alcohol and drug abuse or dependence disorders are also suffering from a co-occurring mental disorder. Diagnosing a dual diagnosis/co-occurring disorder condition in substance abusers can be difficult, as drug abuse itself often induces psychiatric symptoms.  In determining the correct dual diagnosis/co-occurring... [Read more]

Dexedrine Abuse and Addiction

Dexedrine Abuse and Addiction

Dexedrine (dexetroamphetamine) is a psychostimulant drug that produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and decreased appetite. Physical effects of dextroamphetamine can include hyperactivity, restlessness, dilated pupils, blood shot eyes, dry mouth, headache, tachycardia, hypertension, fever, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, aphasia, dizziness, twitching, insomnia, numbness, palpitations, arrhythmias, tremors, and convulsions. In cases of high doses or... [Read more]

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that may develop after an event that results in psychological trauma, such as a threat of death, a threat to physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, a near-death experience, etc. The trauma preceding PTSD overwhelms the person’s ability to cope in a normal manner. Diagnostic symptoms include re-experiencing the original trauma through flashbacks or nightmares; avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma; difficulty... [Read more]

Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ)

Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ)

The severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ, SAD-Q) was first published in the British Journal of Addiction. The SADQ is sometimes used to to predict the levels of medication needed during alcohol detoxification. The test is divided into 5 sections: Physical withdrawal symptoms Affective withdrawal symptoms Craving and relief drinking Typical daily consumption Reinstatement of dependence after a period of abstinence. Each item is scored on a 4-point scale, giving a possible range of... [Read more]

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear in social situations, causing distress and impaired ability to function in daily life. Social anxiety disorder is a potentially disabling disorder, but can be controlled and successfully treated. Physical symptoms often accompanying social anxiety disorder include excessive blushing, sweating (hyperhidrosis), trembling, palpitations, nausea, and stammering.  Panic attacks may also occur under intense fear and discomfort. An... [Read more]

Addiction, Dependence, and Abuse Tests

Addiction, Dependence, and Abuse Tests

Summit Malibu offers the following drug addiction, drug dependence, and drug abuse tests and assessments to help people in determining the seriousness of drug and alcohol problems they may be facing. These tests are not meant to replace a professional evaluation. As with any potentially life-threatening medical condition, a professional medical assessment is highly recommended. Summit Malibu is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide a no-cost, no-commitment, confidential evaluation for... [Read more]

12 Step Fellowships

12 Step Fellowships

12 Step Fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous are widely recognized as one of the best community resources available for recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction, and other compulsive disorders. The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and the AA Fellowship are a complete program of recovery for people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. 12 Step meetings are traditionally open to anyone who wants to attend.  They offer peer support in one-on-one and group settings, as well as other social... [Read more]

Governmental Addiction Recovery Resources

Governmental Addiction Recovery Resources

Summit Malibu offers the following partial list of governmental resources for information on addiction and other treatment related resources. The U.S. Government has created the following resources for addiction treatment and support. The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI): Comprehensive source of information and searchable databases on substance abuse prevention. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism(NIAAA): Supports and conducts research on causes,... [Read more]

Depression Disorder

Depression Disorder

Depression is a major psychiatric disorder that affects millions of Americans and their families, friends, and colleagues.  The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 18.8 million adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. adult population, suffer from some form of depressive disorder. The linkage between depression and physical illnesses makes it, in the words of the World Health Organization, “the world’s second-most disabling disease after heart disease.” Symptoms of... [Read more]

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is defined “as a prolonged disturbance of personality characterized by depth and variability of moods.”  The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; chaotic and unstable interpersonal relationships; unstable self-image, identity, and behavior; and a disturbance in the individual’s sense of self. In extreme cases, this disturbance in the sense of self can lead to periods of... [Read more]

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