Treatment of comorbidity in families

Half or more of all people presenting for treatment for alcohol disorders will also have an additional current or past psychological disorder. The presence of a comorbid disorder makes design and implementation of a treatment plan more complicated, completion of treatment less likely, and the odds of relapse greater. In addition, the presence of a comorbid disorder creates added stress on the social support network of the client, in particular, the client's family. In many cases, the stress reaches a level that leads to a cutoff between the client and family. However, when the family is still actively involved in the client's life, the family members may be able to provide much needed assistance in diagnosis, treatment, and support for abstinence. Current studies indicate that, in order to increase the likelihood of successful treatment, most comorbid disorders should be treated concurrently with alcohol disorders.