Self-Medicating: The Link between Depression & Substance Abuse
Self-Medicating: The Link between Depression & Substance Abuse By Premier Forensic Dream Team Member, Anthony Botrus LMFT, with Dr. Alex Avila Originally published in OFFICES OF DR. AVILA: PREMIER FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY EZINE, # 103 on 4/1/17 When faced with a psychological trauma, injury, or stress, our clients often face some form of depression. A serious form of depression is known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), in which a client has a period of at least 2 weeks in which they have a depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. When evaluating a client, it is important to determine the extent of his/her depression, and if there are any co-morbid (additional) mental health issues. One of the most common co-occurring disorders for someone who has MDD is Substance Abuse. Research has shown that many of the factors that cause depression may also play a role in the development of addiction. A nationwide study of 43,093 adu...