What is a Concurrent Disorder? Meaning, Causes, & Treatment Options
Learn what a concurrent disorder is, how mental health and addiction interact, and effective integrated concurrent disorder treatment options in Ontario.
In this article
A concurrent disorder (also referred to as a co-occurring disorder, dual diagnosis, concurrent illness, or concomitant disorder) describes a condition where an individual experiences both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder or addiction simultaneously. In Ontario, regulated health professionals—including Registered Psychotherapists (RP), Registered Social Workers (RSW), and Clinical Psychologists (C.Psych)—frequently treat clients managing these overlapping challenges. As a graduate of the Post Graduate Concurrent Disorders Program at Mohawk College, I learned firsthand that many people are unfamiliar with this term until it impacts them or a loved one. The term covers any combination of mental illness (such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD) occurring alongside an addiction or substance misuse.
How Does a Concurrent Diagnosis Develop?
Developing a concurrent disorder may be more common than you think. It is increasingly recognized that mental health and addiction go hand in hand. The question is often which came first: the chicken or the egg, the addiction or the mental health issue. Sometimes, when small things could signify a bigger problem, early signs of emotional distress are overlooked until substance use develops.
The development of a concurrent disorder may happen in one of three primary ways:
- The Common Factor Model: This occurs when a person experiences both a substance use disorder and a mental health diagnosis at the same time, often sharing underlying biological or environmental risk factors. For example, a person experiences anxiety and uses marijuana to cope.
- Secondary Substance Abuse: A person develops a mental health condition first and turns to substance use to cope with the symptoms. For example, a person who is clinically depressed turns to alcohol to cope with the depression. The use of alcohol is secondary to the clinical depression.
- Secondary Psychopathology Model: This happens when a person has a substance use disorder and a mental health issue results directly from the substance use. For example, an individual experiences cannabis-induced psychosis.
Concurrent Disorders Treatment: How Integrated Therapy Helps
To start helping someone experiencing a concurrent disorder, you can offer love, compassion, and understanding. We are all just one crisis away from needing help.
When it comes to treatment, both the mental health issue and the addiction need to be addressed. An individualistic approach works best to determine which issue should be addressed first or if both can be addressed simultaneously.
Historically, some treatment guidelines suggested that if substance misuse was involved, the substance use should be treated first so that underlying mental health issues could be clearer to evaluate. However, modern clinical practice in Ontario increasingly favours integrated treatment—treating both the mental health condition and the addiction concurrently. Integrated care helps individuals build coping strategies and practice acceptance in therapy.
One example of integrated therapy for a concurrent disorder involving depression and alcohol use may include a combination of medication (such as an antidepressant) and talk therapy with a qualified counsellor.
If you or someone you love is experiencing mental health challenges and/or addiction, contact Bayridge Counselling Centre at 905.319.1844 to book an appointment with our clinical team in Ontario.
