University Discussion: Mood Disorders and Substance Abuse Treatment

This discussion post examines the relationship between mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. It highlights the challenges in diagnosing these co-occurring conditions and discusses the stress vulnerability model, which suggests genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of these disorders. The post emphasizes the importance of thorough screening and assessment, including gathering patient medical history and utilizing the DSM V for diagnosis. It argues that addressing substance abuse, particularly alcohol, is crucial before treating the mood disorder, as substance use can exacerbate symptoms. Treatment approaches discussed include pharmacological interventions like SSRIs and non-pharmacological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, with a strong emphasis on the role of rehabilitation and support from social workers and family involvement for effective recovery. The post references several studies to support its arguments.

Running head: WEEK FIVE DISCUSSION
WEEK FIVE DISCUSSION
Name of the student:
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WEEK FIVE DISCUSSION
Week five discussion:
Mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorders are experienced
by individuals who are developing habit of substance abuse. Tolliver and Anton (2015),
highlighted that there is a relationship between the abuse of substances and the diagnosis of
mood disorders. However, it is not always clear whether the mood disorder triggered the
substance abuse or substance abuse triggered the mood disorder. Methodical, staged screening
and assessment can ease the diagnostic challenge of these two disorders. According to stress
vulnerability model, human always carries genetic and other predispositions of mental illness
and stimulants such as alcohol and smoking trigger or facilitate the prognosis of the mood
disorder (Calvete, Orue & Hankin, 2015). To support this argument, Salloum and Brown (2017),
highlighted that due to the presence of genetic factors and low level of serotonin and dopamine,
some individuals are more prone to development of mood disorders. Individuals with these
vulnerabilities when subjected to negative life experiences during their developmental stage, they
will develop a mood disorder (Sternat & Katzman, 2016). As a defense mechanism when they
are using alcohol and other stimulants, it further facilitates the symptoms of mood disorder.
In order to distinguish between these two disorders, the professionals are required to the
medical history of the patients such as the habit of substance dependence, negative life
consequence, family history, and any other comorbid disorders (Sternat & Katzman, 2016).
Patients having a family history of mood disorder and other comorbid situation more likely to
experience trigger of the symptoms due to substance use. In this case, after gathering the medical
history, the professional is required to diagnose patient DSM V to diagnose the type of mood
disorder (Blanco et al., 2015).

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WEEK FIVE DISCUSSION
As discussed above the individuals who are more inclined towards the mood disorder
tend to experience the severity of the disease after using alcohol as a defense mechanism (Blanco
et al., 2015). In this context, treatment would not be effective for treating mood disorder. Hence,
to support the wellbeing of the patient, the issues associated with alcohol use should be
addressed first. Reduction of alcohol use eventually improves adherence to the medication and
enhance the effect of pharmacological and non- pharmacological interventions of the patient
(Blanco et al., 2015). To treat the mood disorder in the patient, the patient is required to refer to
professionals with expertise of the alcohol cessation. After cessation of alcohol addiction or any
other substance abuse, the patient is required to provide pharmacological intervention such as
SSRI and non-pharmacological intervention such as cognitive behavioral therapy (Tolliver &
Anton 2015). It will reduce mood disorder by eliminating the stimulants for a mood disorder
such as alcohol. Hence, in order to improve the symptoms of the mood disorder in patients , the
support of rehabilitation is required to provide where social workers can support patient for
eliminating alcohol or other drugs consumptions and facilitate faster recovery from the mood
disorder as well as substance use disorder. They family can be involved in each interventions.

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WEEK FIVE DISCUSSION
References:
Blanco, C., Iza, M., Rodríguez-Fernández, J. M., Baca-García, E., Wang, S., & Olfson, M.
(2015). Probability and predictors of treatment-seeking for substance use disorders in the
US. Drug and alcohol dependence, 149, 136-144.
Calvete, E., Orue, I., & Hankin, B. L. (2015). A longitudinal test of the vulnerability-stress
model with early maladaptive schemas for depressive and social anxiety symptoms in
adolescents. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 37(1), 85-99.
Salloum, I. M., & Brown, E. S. (2017). Management of comorbid bipolar disorder and substance
use disorders. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 43(4), 366-376.
Sternat, T., & Katzman, M. A. (2016). Neurobiology of hedonic tone: the relationship between
treatment-resistant depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and substance
abuse. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 12, 2149.
Tolliver, B. K., & Anton, R. F. (2015). Assessment and treatment of mood disorders in the
context of substance abuse. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 17(2), 181.