Self-medication is the practice where individuals with debilitating symptoms of a psychiatric disorder misuse substances, such as illicit or prescription drugs, in an attempt to alleviate their distress or symptoms.

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Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more diagnoses in an individual. In the context of addiction, it is common for a person to have both a substance-related disorder and another psychiatric diagnosis, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. The link is strong; compared to the general population, individuals who misuse illicit or prescription drugs are twice as likely to also suffer from a mood or anxiety disorder.

Comorbidity of Substance Use Disorders and Other Mental Illnesses

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

The comorbidity between severe mental illness and substance use disorder is significant. Estimates indicate that approximately 25% of individuals with the most severe mental illnesses also have a substance use disorder. Conversely, about 10% of those seeking treatment for a substance use disorder are also diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

Prevalence of Comorbidity in Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder

The term 'Mentally Ill and Chemically Addicted' (MICA) is a classification for individuals diagnosed with both a substance use disorder and another psychological condition. Treating this population is particularly challenging, as their problems are often chronic, costly to manage, and have limited rates of success.

Mentally Ill and Chemically Addicted (MICA)

The connection between substance use and other mental illnesses is often reciprocal. Drug use can trigger or worsen the symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders. Conversely, individuals with debilitating psychiatric symptoms may use substances as a form of self-medication to cope with their condition.

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