Authors
30/12/2025
Dual Disorders: present and future
abstract
Dual Disorder —the coexistence of a substance use disorder (SUD) and another mental disorder in the same individual— represents a major clinical and social challenge. Its prevalence is high and varies depending on individual and contextual factors. Affected individuals present greater clinical severity, poorer prognosis, higher risk of social exclusion, and generate a significant burden on healthcare and judicial systems. Despite its impact, these disorders often remain underdiagnosed and undertreated, partly due to the fragmentation between mental health and addiction care networks.
Gender perspective is essential in addressing Dual Disorder. While men still show higher overall substance use rates, women tend to progress more rapidly to addiction, exhibit more affective comorbidities, and face additional barriers to treatment access—such as stigma, lack of adapted services, or fear of losing child custody. Integrating this perspective allows for the development of more equitable and effective interventions tailored to the specific needs of both women and men.
Proper care for Dual Disorder requires early detection, careful differential diagnosis, and an integrated therapeutic approach. It is crucial to overcome the current fragmented model and move towards coordinated, evidence-based care pathways. This includes training professionals in gender- and trauma-informed approaches and ensuring access to services that combine mental health care, addiction treatment, and psychosocial support.
Keywords:
Dual Disorder, addictions, mental health, integrated diagnosis, gender perspective, treatment.
Received date
04/09/2025
Accepted date
10/12/2025