What Do Case Studies Tell Us About Addictions and Psychiatric Comorbidities? A Survival Story: The necessity for a transdiagnostic and holistic approach

TL;DR

This paper uses a case study to highlight the need for a holistic and transdiagnostic approach in treating addiction and psychiatric comorbidities that begin in early life.

Contribution

The paper emphasizes the clinical value of case studies in understanding complex comorbid addiction and mental health cases.

Findings

Early life adversities like stress sensitivity and emotion dysregulation contribute to addiction and mental disorders.

A transdiagnostic approach is essential for managing complex, long-term comorbid cases.

Case studies can provide unique clinical insights that complement large-scale data analyses.

Abstract

Comorbidities in addiction: It is a rule rather than an exception. The story starts in childhood; even before, in infancy, may be in utero. The dimensional traits have been already there, existing obviously far before any DSM-5 diagnosis. Developmental qualities of stress sensitivity, impulsivity and emotion dysregulation are the leading ones. Besides, comorbidity research (NESARC being one of the prominents) (Hasin and Grant. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidem, 2015;50 (11): 1609-1640) addressed childhood abuse, neglect or other childhood adverse experiences as a definite risk factor for adolescence and adult mental disorders, particularly substance use disorders. Developmental and environmental adversities in a mutually amplifying pattern make a vicious cycle in which the individual finally finds an illusionary exit, a pathway to addiction.

This presentation aims to discuss the complexities and challenges for the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with a twenty five year follow-up, a survival period for the patient herself as well as for the therapeutic alliance (Ulug, Arch Neuropsychiatr, 2015;52: 213-215).

Case study: The history and the life chart of her, diagnosed as having at least seven DSM diagnoses, indicate the depth of pyschopathology and the intensity of interventions, most of which failed due to the lack of a transdiagnostic and holistic perspective. A specific focus of the case study will be on the problematic use of Borderline Personality Disorder formulation/diagnosis and its negative, somehow short-coming, impact on the treatment, course and recovery.

The challenges brought by comorbid transdiagnostic cases, similar to the subject of this presentation, have become a common practice for addiction professionals. While big data or empirical large datasets can have their own limitations to help the practitioner for overcoming such challenges, as stated in Stein’s article “it is important to recognize the value of a wide range of complementary research designs including the age-old single-case study, which may sometimes provide clinical insights that outweigh those from big data analyses.” (Stein et al. World Pychiatry, 2022; 21(3): 393-414).

The case study indicates the necessity for transdiagnostic and holistic approach in the management and long term treatment of such difficult-to-diagnose and difficult-to-treat patients.

None Declared