Co-occurring Disorders Treatment Centre in the UK

Dual Diagnosis and Co-occurring Conditions

When addiction and mental health conditions exist together, treating one without the other rarely leads to lasting recovery. At PROMIS, dual diagnosis treatment is not an add-on — it is central to how we work.

Since 1987, we have treated people whose difficulties overlap: depression with alcohol dependence, anxiety with compulsive behaviour, trauma with substance use. In our clinical experience, these conditions fuel one another, and effective treatment must address them together.

If you are currently receiving treatment or taking prescribed medication, our clinical team will work alongside your existing care. We never recommend stopping medication without proper medical guidance.

What Are Co-occurring Disorders?

A co-occurring disorder — also known as dual diagnosis — means that two or more conditions are present at the same time. Commonly, this involves a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or trauma alongside addiction or compulsive behaviour.

When conditions overlap, symptoms tend to be more severe and harder to manage. You may find that your mental health deteriorates when you try to stop using substances, or that your substance use worsens when you are struggling emotionally.

Effective treatment requires an integrated approach that addresses both conditions simultaneously, rather than treating them separately or sequentially.

Types of Co-occurring Disorders

At PROMIS, the most common co-occurring presentations we treat include:

These conditions are not simply occurring side by side. In most cases, one condition directly influences the other, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without specialist intervention.

Many people who come to PROMIS have tried treatment before, but found that programmes focused on only one condition did not produce lasting results.

Our clinical team includes psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and addiction specialists who work together. This integrated approach means you do not need to navigate between separate services for each condition.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder frequently co-occur with substance use. Persistent low mood or emotional instability can drive people to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, while substance use can worsen mood symptoms significantly.

At PROMIS, we use a combination of psychiatric assessment, medication management, and evidence-based therapies including CBT and DBT to address mood disorders alongside addiction.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders — including generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias — are among the most common mental health conditions in the UK. When anxiety co-occurs with addiction, each condition can intensify the other.

People often use substances to manage anxiety symptoms, but this creates a dependency that ultimately makes anxiety worse. Our treatment addresses the anxiety directly using EMDR, CBT, and somatic approaches, alongside addiction treatment.

Psychotic Disorders

Some people experience psychotic symptoms — such as paranoia, delusions, or hallucinations — alongside substance use. These symptoms may be substance-induced or may indicate an underlying condition that requires specialist psychiatric assessment.

At PROMIS, our psychiatrists can assess whether psychotic symptoms are related to substance use, an independent condition, or both, and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders frequently co-occur with depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use. PROMIS has specialist expertise in treating eating disorders alongside other conditions.

Signs and Symptoms of a Co-occurring Disorder

You may be living with a co-occurring disorder if you recognise several of the following:

Using alcohol or drugs to manage difficult emotions, anxiety, or low mood. Finding that your mental health worsens when you try to stop using substances. Struggling to engage with treatment that only addresses one condition.

Feeling that your symptoms are getting worse despite treatment. Experiencing relationship, work, or financial difficulties linked to both your mental health and substance use.

Physical symptoms such as persistent fatigue, sleep problems, or unexplained pain that may be connected to both conditions.

Next Steps

If any of this feels familiar, speaking to a specialist is a practical first step. Our team can help you understand what is happening and what treatment options are available.

How PROMIS Treats Co-occurring Conditions

Treatment at PROMIS begins with a thorough psychiatric and clinical assessment to understand the full picture — not just the presenting symptoms, but how your conditions interact and what is maintaining them.

From there, we create a personalised treatment plan that may include psychiatric assessment and medication review, individual therapy using CBT, DBT, or EMDR, group therapy with others who understand dual diagnosis, and family work where appropriate.

Treatment is available residentially at our London and Kent clinics, as a day patient, or through outpatient and online sessions. The right setting depends on the severity of your conditions and your personal circumstances.

Where medication is appropriate, our psychiatrists prescribe and monitor it as part of the wider treatment plan — supporting the therapeutic process, not replacing it.

Why Choose PROMIS for Dual Diagnosis

Over 35 years treating complex, overlapping conditions — dual diagnosis is our core expertise, not a secondary service. A clinical team that includes psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and addiction specialists working together. CQC registered — regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Rapid access to assessment and treatment, without NHS waiting lists. Small patient numbers, ensuring personalised attention throughout your programme.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with overlapping mental health and addiction difficulties, speaking to our team is a straightforward, confidential first step. Call us on 0207 581 8222 (London) or 01304 841 700 (Kent), or contact us online.