Which of the following are examples of a co-occurring condition?

September 29, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, millions of adults in the U.S. experience a co-occurring disorder, involving both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder. Understanding which of the following are examples of a co-occurring condition? is the first step toward integrated care and better health outcomes.

Quick Summary

Common examples of a co-occurring condition include having a mental health disorder, like anxiety, depression, or PTSD, along with a substance use disorder, such as alcohol or drug addiction, as these issues often influence each other's severity.

Key Points

Definition of Co-occurring Conditions: This refers to the simultaneous presence of two or more health disorders, most commonly a mental illness and a substance use disorder.
Common Combinations: Examples often involve anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, PTSD, or bipolar disorder paired with an alcohol or drug addiction.
Contributing Factors: The development of these conditions is influenced by genetic predisposition, environmental stress, trauma, and a tendency to self-medicate mental health symptoms with substances.
Integrated Treatment is Key: An integrated approach that treats both the mental health and substance use disorders at the same time is more effective for long-term recovery than treating them separately.
Recognize the Signs: Symptoms like social withdrawal, mood swings, risky behavior, and continued substance use despite negative consequences can indicate a co-occurring condition.
Treatment Modalities: Effective treatment often involves a combination of behavioral therapies like CBT or DBT, medication management, and support groups, all working in a coordinated fashion.

What Are Co-Occurring Conditions?

Co-occurring conditions, often called dual diagnosis or comorbidity, refer to the presence of two or more health disorders in the same person at the same time. While this can refer to any combination of diseases, the term most commonly describes the co-existence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder (SUD). It is a complex issue where symptoms can interact and exacerbate one another, leading to more severe and persistent problems than with either disorder alone.

Why Do Conditions Co-Occur?

There are multiple theories and factors that contribute to why these conditions so frequently appear together.

Genetic Factors: Shared genetic predispositions can increase a person's vulnerability to both mental illness and addiction.
Environmental Factors: Traumatic experiences, chronic stress, or abuse can act as triggers for both mental health issues and substance use disorders.
Developmental Factors: Disorders that surface during adolescence and young adulthood, when the brain is still developing, can influence one another. Early substance use can affect brain development, increasing the risk for mental illness.
Self-Medication: Individuals with mental health symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, may turn to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to alleviate their discomfort. This can lead to a substance use disorder, which in turn often worsens the original mental health condition.

Examples of Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

Many specific combinations of mental health and substance use disorders are frequently observed. Here are some of the most common examples of a co-occurring condition:

Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder: This is a very common pairing, as individuals with depression may self-medicate with alcohol, which can further depress their mood and worsen symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Substance Dependence: People with GAD may use substances like benzodiazepines or alcohol to quiet their anxious thoughts and feelings. Over time, dependence on these substances can develop, and their anxiety may worsen in the long run.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Addiction: Survivors of trauma often turn to drugs or alcohol to numb intrusive memories and emotional pain. This often leads to a cycle of substance dependence and heightened PTSD symptoms.
Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use: The extreme mood swings characteristic of bipolar disorder, from manic highs to depressive lows, can lead individuals to use substances to regulate their emotions. This can interfere with medication and treatment, worsening both conditions.
Schizophrenia and Stimulant Addiction: Individuals with schizophrenia may use substances like stimulants to cope with their symptoms, though this often leads to a worsening of psychotic episodes and disorganization.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Substance Use: Those with ADHD have a higher risk of developing a substance use disorder, with some research suggesting a link between the brain changes associated with ADHD and drug cravings.

Other Common Co-Occurring Conditions

It is also common for individuals to experience combinations that do not involve a substance use disorder, such as two or more mental health conditions or a mental health condition and a physical health issue.

Anxiety and Depression: Often referred to as one of the most common pairings, anxiety and depression can feed into each other, creating a complex cycle of symptoms.
Eating Disorders and Depression: Many people struggling with eating disorders also have co-occurring depression, as their relationship with food and body image is deeply tied to their emotional state.
Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: Individuals with chronic pain are at a higher risk of developing an opioid use disorder after long-term prescription use. The relationship is circular, as chronic pain can increase the risk for addiction, and opioid use can increase pain sensitivity.

Fragmented vs. Integrated Treatment

Historically, co-occurring disorders were treated in separate systems—one for mental health and another for substance abuse. This fragmented approach often led to poor outcomes, including higher rates of relapse. The integrated treatment model has since emerged as the gold standard.


Feature	Fragmented Treatment	Integrated Treatment
Coordination	Separate providers working independently; lack of communication.	Coordinated, multidisciplinary team; providers communicate regularly.
Effectiveness	Often ineffective; treating one condition can undermine progress in the other.	Highly effective; addresses the complete scope of a person's needs simultaneously.
Patient Experience	Disjointed and confusing; patients may receive conflicting messages or goals.	Consistent and cohesive; provides a clear, unified path to recovery.
Outcome	Higher risk of relapse and incomplete recovery.	Better long-term outcomes, including sustained recovery and improved quality of life.

Recognizing the Signs and Seeking Help

Recognizing a co-occurring condition can be challenging because symptoms can be masked or worsened by the other disorder. General signs to look out for include:

Sudden or frequent mood swings.
Withdrawal from social activities and loved ones.
Engaging in risky or impulsive behaviors.
Using substances to cope with difficult emotions.
Experiencing ongoing financial, legal, or relationship problems due to behavior related to substance use.

Integrated treatment is the recommended approach for those struggling with dual diagnosis. These programs address both conditions simultaneously, often through a combination of evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and medication management.

For more information on integrated treatment, a useful resource is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, specifically their information on co-occurring disorders.

Conclusion

Co-occurring conditions represent a complex interplay of mental health issues, substance use disorders, and sometimes, physical health problems. Examples range from depression and alcoholism to chronic pain and opioid dependence. The most effective path to recovery is through integrated treatment, which addresses all conditions at once, rather than in isolation. Recognizing the signs and seeking coordinated care can lead to better outcomes, increased stability, and a higher quality of life for individuals and their families.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dual diagnosis is another term for a co-occurring condition. It is used to describe an individual who has both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time.

Yes, it can. Many people with a mental health condition may attempt to 'self-medicate' their symptoms with drugs or alcohol, which can lead to the development of a substance use disorder over time.

Besides mental health and substance use disorders, examples of co-occurring conditions can include chronic pain and an opioid use disorder, where one condition influences the other and vice versa.

Yes. For example, it is very common for a person to have both an anxiety disorder and a depressive disorder simultaneously. These conditions can interact and impact the severity of each other's symptoms.

Integrated treatment is superior because it addresses both disorders simultaneously with a coordinated team of specialists. This approach prevents one disorder from triggering a relapse in the other and provides a more holistic, consistent path to recovery.

Signs can vary but may include significant changes in behavior or mood, increased social isolation, using substances despite negative consequences, or difficulties in daily functioning. A comprehensive assessment by a medical professional is necessary for a diagnosis.

Adolescents with co-occurring conditions often have a substance use disorder along with mental health issues like mood and anxiety disorders, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).