Both addiction and co-occurring mental disorders need to be treated simultaneously in cases of dual diagnosis for such treatment to be as effective as possible. Residential treatment allows for the on-site provision of all necessary treatment, according to an optimal schedule drawn up by the assessing medical staff, rather than – as is often the case in instances of outpatient care – according to the availability of appointment times and/or the professional, academic or other schedules of the patient in question. Furthermore, any medical or psychiatric emergencies which may result from any aspects of the treatment may be dealt with on site immediately, making treatment infinitely safer (especially in cases where the client is suffering from disorders which could lead them to harm themselves or others).
Moreover, residential care typically takes place in secure, attractive and confidential environments perfectly suited to an individual’s recovery, where they will not have access to substances of abuse and will be kept away from many triggering elements which could previously disrupt or derail treatment altogether. While this is not to say that outpatient treatment is invariably unsuccessful, it is accepted that residential treatment combining various pharmaceutical and psychotherapeutic approaches is the preferred option for treating cases of dual diagnosis.