Throughout the recovery journey, a person suffering from an addiction disorder will meet a number of professionals. Counselors, community health workers, and social workers are just a few examples.
Should psychiatrists be included in the picture? If so, would it be beneficial to see an addiction psychiatrist rather than someone who works in general psychiatry?
This post will walk you through all the details. We’ll also share a tip for finding a board-certified addiction psychiatrist in Illinois.
Table of Contents
Why Having an Addiction Psychiatrist on the Team Is Vital
Let’s start by looking at how psychiatrists play an important role in addiction treatment.
1. Dual-Diagnosis Cases Are More Common Than You Think
Substance use disorders (SUDs) don’t exist in a vacuum. In a lot of cases, the SUD actually co-exists with another mental health problem. That’s what professionals in the field refer to as a “dual diagnosis.”
How common is dual diagnosis? Well, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) puts the number around 21.5 million. That’s 21.5 million adults suffering from both an SUD and a mental illness in the US alone!
But let’s take a closer look at dual diagnosis statistics in Illinois specifically. Here are some helpful insights:
| Age Group | Average Annual Percentage of SUD With Any Mental Illness | Average Annual Percentage of SUD With a Serious Mental Illness |
| 18 25 years | 13.88% | 4.95% |
| Over 26 years | 7.08% | 2.34% |
| All over 18 years | 7.99% | 2.69% |
Naturally, the interplay of symptoms can make things even more complicated. Getting a specialized psychiatrist involved in the treatment plan can help the team provide the best patient care possible.
2. There’s an Important Distinction Between Therapists and Psychiatrists
The presence of both therapists and psychiatrists on an addiction treatment team can come in handy. Yet, it’s important to clarify that they’re not the same thing.
“Therapist” is the broader term of the two, and it refers to an individual who is trained in psychotherapy.
Therapists can practice cognitive or dialectical behavioral therapies. They don’t have to have a medical degree, but they can get a license from the state’s departments of professional regulation (like the IDFPR in Illinois).
Psychiatrists, on the other hand, are medical doctors (MDs) who have chosen psychiatry as their specialty. That means they’ve done four years of medical school and then a residency in a general psychiatry program.
Later, they might narrow down on addiction medicine and choose that as their subspecialty.
All this training gives them the right to prescribe medication as they see fit. Considering that some mental conditions require drugs (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, etc.), seeing a psychiatrist could be a necessary part of recovery.
Their role doesn’t stop with the prescription, either. Psychiatrists have to set follow-up appointments. Patients need help with side effects and medication management, after all.
3. Holistic Approaches Tend to Work Better
Even if there are no co-occurring mental health issues along with the SUD, opting for a holistic approach is often a helpful tactic.
That’s why, more often than not, when healthcare professionals discuss behavioral health plans, they’re referring to holistic treatments. That includes more than physicians—it also covers psychiatrists.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to find holistic therapy for alcohol or substance abuse in Illinois.
At Illinois Recovery Center (IRC), we customize treatment plans to boost our patients’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being. We start the process with an assessment that covers medical history and lifestyle. The treating team then considers this information.
If the patient needs medication for their condition, a psychiatrist will be involved.
Where Psychiatric Care Fits in Addiction Treatment Programs
Addiction psychiatry is part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan, which might leave you wondering about how the sessions/medication follow-ups will fit into the program.
Because each treatment plan is different, there are no hard-and-fast rules. The sessions will vary in form and frequency. Some patients might follow a weekly schedule, while others need to see the psychiatrist more often.
Detox Support
Detoxing from drug use can take its toll on anyone. People might worry about the physical symptoms, but there’s also the mental aspect. For instance, a patient might go through intense anxiety during this phase.
While the mental symptoms are usually temporary, psychiatric care is still helpful. A professional who’s familiar with the detox process can quickly identify dangerous developments (like suicidal ideation) and whether medications are needed.
That’s why an addiction psychiatrist may be involved for people detoxing from stimulant drugs like Adderall.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Our facility in Swansea, Illinois, offers 24-hour inpatient/residential addiction treatment. Patients committed to this type of rehab get round-the-clock support from a large team. So, the mental aspect of the plan is well addressed.
However, some USD patients need a partial hospitalization program (PHP). That’s more of a day treatment program, where they spend 4–6 hours in the center each day.
In general, PHPs provide extensive psychiatric treatment. A typical day in the program will include an on-site session, along with any other activities/group meetings the treatment plan calls for.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) aren’t as heavily structured as PHPs. However, they’re still multidisciplinary and evidence-based. You can expect a bit of individual, group, and family therapy.
For some patients, mental medication management is vital as well. That’s why counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists need to be involved in the program.
Aftercare
Just because a dual-diagnosis patient is sober doesn’t mean they no longer need psychiatric care. They might still need to see someone for the second part of their diagnosis. In a way, the aftercare for the addictive disorder will come hand in hand with long-term psychiatric help.
Keep in mind that some mental health conditions benefit from lifelong medication and support. For instance, a recovering SUD patient with co-occurring schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (BPD) might need to remain on medications indefinitely.
What to Look for in an Addiction Psychiatrist
Now that you know what role the addiction psychiatrist can play in the treatment plan, you might be wondering how to find one.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
Official Certification
The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) recognizes addiction psychiatry as a subspecialty of general psychiatry. The board also provides certification programs for professionals in the field.
In order to become board-certified, psychiatrists have to complete no less than a year of training in the field of addiction treatment. They also need to study for and pass an exam.
As a result, the certified psychiatrist will be experienced in evaluating and treating people who suffer from drug or alcohol use disorders.
So, one thing to look for when you’re choosing an addiction psychiatrist for yourself (or a loved one) is the certification. The good thing is that you can always double-check that the healthcare provider is certified. Just use the ABPN’s database search tool.
The search tool also lets you find all board-certified psychiatrists in any given area. Then, you can filter the results by subspecialty. For example, you can search for names of certified addiction professionals in Chicago or Collinsville.
Side Note: In Illinois, a physician needs a medical degree and two years of residency (clinical training) before they can even become a licensed psychiatrist.
Experience With SUDs and Dual Diagnoses
Ideally, the addiction psychiatrist will have experience treating common co-occurring or dual-diagnosis disorders, such as:
- Anxiety disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression
They should also know how to communicate with people suffering from an SUD and all the hardships that come with the disease.
Patient Advocacy
No matter which psychiatrists you choose to see, it’s important that they advocate for you and your needs. They should never feed into the stigma around drug abuse and mental illness.
Evidence-Based Psychiatric Help in Illinois
Dealing with an addiction disorder is already an uphill challenge. Adding a dual diagnosis into the mix only makes things more complicated.
That said, simply considering seeing an addiction psychiatrist puts you on the right track. A trained professional with experience in the field can help you work through your substance/alcohol abuse problems while also dealing with your mental health condition.
Remember that while counseling and talk therapies are essential, sometimes they don’t cut it on their own. Some patients require medications during their recovery journey, and that’s where a psychiatrist’s skill will be needed the most.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you or a family member suffers from addiction and mental illnesses. Get in touch with the Illinois Recovery Center team today to see if seeking psychiatric care is the right move for you.
We’re located just outside St. Louis, but we’re also happy to listen to your problems and discuss the options over the phone. Just dial (888) 510-3133 to talk to our support staff.
