Drug abuse in schizophrenic patients: Clinical correlates and reasons for use

Lisa Dixon, Gretchen Haas, Peter J. Weiden, John Sweeney, Allen J. Frances

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

514 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to 1) determine substance abuse prevalence and preference in a diverse sample of schizophrenic, schizoaffective, and schizophreniform inpatients, 2) compare drug-abusing and non-drug-abusing patients on demographic and clinical variables during the acute and stabilization phases of their hospital course, and 3) obtain data from patients on reasons for drug abuse and on acute state-related changes during periods of intoxication. Method: Eighty-three psychotic inpatients consecutively admitted to a New York City teaching hospital were evaluated. Sixty-eight had schizophrenia, 12 had schizoaffective disorder, and three had schizophreniform disorder diagnosed according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. Each patient received ratings on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Global Assessment Scale, and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms at admission and at discharge, an evaluation of premorbid adjustment, and an extensive interview on drug and alcohol use. Results: Forty (48%) of the patients received diagnoses of drug or alcohol abuse or dependence. The drug-abusing patients primarily used cannabis (N=26), alcohol (N=21), and cocaine (N=14) and reported that they abused drugs to get "high," to relieve depression, and to relax. They had significantly fewer positive and negative symptoms at discharge, better sexual adjustment and worse school performance during adolescence, and more family histories of drug abuse than the non-drugabusing patients. Conclusions: Schizophrenic patients who abuse drugs may represent a subgroup of patients with better prognoses and less severe clinical characteristics of schizophrenia, but their drug abuse may adversely affect global outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)224-230
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry
Volume148
Issue number2
StatePublished - Feb 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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