Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction: Substance abuse is a common comorbidity in patients of Schizophrenia. Link between the use of substances and development of psychosis is demonstrated by high prevalence of substance abuse in schizophrenia. Substance use disorders and their effects on schizophrenia have made identification and treatment of these patients a high priority. Aim: To study the prevalence of substance abuse, preferred types of substances of abuse and its association with socio demographic characteristics and clinical features of schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: It was an observational cross-sectional study conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Sample size was 100 patients. The participants were assessed for socio demographic details and questionnaires on Positive And Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Patients with substance abuse were compared with patients without substance abuse on demographic and disease related characteristics. SPSS version 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Categorical data was analysed by Chi-square test and quantitative data was analysed by t-test. Results: 48% patients of schizophrenia had substance abuse. Smokeless tobacco was found to be the most commonly abused (42%) by patients of Schizophrenia. Substance use was more common in males than females. Smokeless tobacco was the only substance abuse in females (18%). Schizophrenia patients with substance abuse had more PANSS positive score than those without substance use. Conclusion: Substance abuse is a significant comorbidity in patients of schizophrenia in India.

Keywords

• alcohol
• comorbidity
• dual diagnosis
• tobacco