Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Demographic and Clinical Correlates

TLDR: The findings show that environmental factors may be important determinants of substance abuse among schizophrenic-spectrum patients and that clinical differences related to abuse vary with different types of drugs.

Abstract: Methodological issues involved in assessing the prevalence of substance abuse in schizophrenia are discussed, and previous research in this area is comprehensively reviewed. Many studies surfer from methodological shortcomings, including the lack of diagnostic rigor, adequate sample sizes, and simultaneous assessment of different types of substance abuse (e.g., stimulants, sedatives). In general, the evidence suggests that the prevalence of substance abuse in schizophrenia is comparable to that in the general population, with the possible exceptions of stimulant and hallucinogen abuse, which may be greater in patients with schizophrenia. Data are presented on the association of substance abuse with demographics, diagnosis, history of illness, and symptoms in 149 recently hospitalized DSM-III-R schizophrenic, schizophreniform, and schizoaffective disorder patients. Demographic characteristics were strong predictors of substance abuse, with gender, age, race, and socioeconomic status being most