Dual diagnosis treatment at Kolmac: Integrated care for co-occurring disorders

Substance use and mental health conditions rarely occur in isolation. When they happen together, each can reinforce the other — making it harder to sustain progress when only one is being addressed.

At Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health, dual diagnosis care isn’t a separate track or an add-on service. It’s built into every level of our outpatient programs, so both conditions are treated simultaneously within a single, coordinated plan from the start.

What is dual diagnosis?

A dual diagnosis isn’t uncommon. Approximately half of Kolmac’s patients have a mental health condition that interferes with their substance use treatment.

Patients can’t achieve lasting progress unless they receive simultaneous treatment for both co-occurring psychiatric conditions and substance use.

Some people who come to us have experienced difficulties in the past because of a false belief that sobriety alone cures all problems, or that treating psychiatric issues with medication remedies substance use disorder.

At Kolmac, our team diagnoses and treats patients with a dual diagnosis as part of our intensive outpatient program.

Common co-occurring conditions we treat

Co-occurring disorders take many forms. Some pairings are more common than others, and each carries its own clinical considerations. Kolmac treats a wide range of mental health and substance use conditions as part of an integrated plan.

Depression and substance use

Depression and substance use disorder frequently co-occur, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.Alcohol, opioids, and other …

Anxiety and alcohol or drug use

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions seen alongside substance use. Alcohol is frequently used to manage soci…

PTSD and substance use

Trauma and substance use share a close relationship.Many individuals with PTSD use substances to manage intrusive symptoms or emotional dysr…

ADHD and stimulant misuse

ADHD frequently co-occurs with substance use disorder. Stimulant misuse is common among individuals with undiagnosed or under-treated ADHD, …

How Kolmac’s integrated approach works

One of Kolmac’s basic, long-held beliefs is that patients with a dual diagnosis get the best results when they receive treatment for their substance use disorder and their co-occurring psychiatric condition at the same time.

Our medical and clinical staff work diligently to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for problems such as mood disorders, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, and the consequences of trauma.

While it’s difficult to disentangle substance use issues from other psychiatric conditions, confidence in making treatment decisions together with patients and their families is essential.

The key to providing patients with a dual diagnosis the best possible outcome is listening. We talk with our patients and their families to develop effective, individualized treatment programs.

Our clinical team

At Kolmac, we maintain a full staff of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Our medical team works closely with our therapists, collaborating with patients’ psychiatrists and other treatment providers to devise the best treatment plan.

Our experienced medical and clinical staff closely follow patients with a dual diagnosis. This allows the team to rapidly assess patients for medication-related side effects and make changes accordingly.

We have the expertise and knowledge to provide psychiatric treatment when necessary. If our team feels patients need further treatment, we arrange for psychotherapy referrals to outside therapists or residential psychiatric treatment.

A dual diagnosis is a complicated matter. Patients and staff must keep an open mind about the diagnoses and be willing to change course when needed.

For individuals navigating both mental health and substance use, the mental health IOP at Kolmac is designed to address both.

Dual diagnosis treatment at every level of care

Co-occurring disorders don’t require patients to seek separate providers for mental health and substance use. At Kolmac, integrated dual diagnosis care is available across the full outpatient continuum:

Partial hospitalization (PHP)

Higher-intensity, structured daytime programming for individuals who need close clinical monitoring of both conditions.

Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

The core of treatment for most patients, with structured group and individual therapy several days per week and psychiatric support integrated throughout.

Outpatient program (OP)

Ongoing support for patients stepping down from IOP or PHP, with continued access to medication management and individual therapy.

Frequently asked questions

Start dual diagnosis treatment at Kolmac

Often, patients with a dual diagnosis and their families are managing two serious conditions at once and may have reached a point of exhaustion or doubt. The professionals at Kolmac are here to help.

Integrated care, a straightforward admissions process, and same-day appointments mean you don’t have to wait to get started.

Call: (866) 575-9040

Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health provides dual diagnosis treatment at locations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., with virtual access available throughout all four states. Request an appointment, and our team will take it from there.

A young adult woman speaking to her therapist via video call.