Substance Abuse in a Sample of Egyptian Schizophrenic Patients (original) (raw)

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

The American journal of psychiatry, 1991

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. 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 a...

Determining factors for Cannabis use among Moroccans Schizophrenic Patients: A cross sectional study

Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 2020

Objective: Cannabis use is considered a major clinical problem associated with a poorer outcome in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of cannabis us among patients with schizophrenia. The assessment consists in comparing some factors related to substance use in a population of schizophrenic patients between cannabis users and non- Materials and Methods: Four hundred and three participants who were examined prospectively during their hospitalization answered the PANNS scale of schizophrenia, GAF, BIS-10, CDSS, and MARS. The consumption of cannabis was investigated using urine toxicological analysis. Sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic data were also recorded. Results: The prevalence of cannabis use among schizophrenic inpatients was 49%. Patients with cannabis use were younger (31.7 vs 34.9 years old, p<0.001), more often male (52 vs 20% female, p<0.001), and they presented more often a history of imprisonment (68...

Substance abuse in schizophrenia

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2002

s Abstract Background Most of the information on the prevalence and patterns of substance abuse in patients with schizophrenia has been from studies conducted in North America and Europe and data from Asian countries are conspicuously lacking. This study was undertaken with the aim to identify the prevalence and patterns of substance abuse among patients with firstepisode schizophrenia in the city-state of Singapore. Methods All new patients with a diagnosis of firstepisode schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder who were seen in one calendar year in the only state mental institute in Singapore and its affiliated outpatient clinics were evaluated for a lifetime history of substance use. Results In a sample of 272 patients, 201 (73.6 %) were abstainers, 43 (15.8 %) had "mild" substance use and 28 (10.3 %) had "heavy" use patterns. Alcohol was the most frequently abused substance. The substance users were more likely to be males and were more likely to have a criminal record than abstainers. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the co-morbidity of substance abuse in schizophrenia in an Asian population. Our findings once again highlight the fact that patients with schizophrenia are at a high risk for substance abuse. s

Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Demographic and Clinical Correlates

Schizophrenia Bulletin, 1990

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 important. Stimulant abusers tended to have their first hospitalization at an earlier age and were more often diagnosed as having schizophrenia, but did not differ in their symptoms from nonabusers. A history of cannabis abuse was related to fewer symptoms and previous hospitalizations, suggesting that more socially competent patients were prone to cannabis use. The findings show that environmental factors may be important determinants of substance abuse among schizophrenicspectrum patients and that clinical differences related to abuse vary with different types of drugs.

Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Patients with Schizophrenia

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, 2020

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.

Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse

British Journal of Psychiatry, 1994

BackgroundRecent research from North America has demonstrated higher than expected rates of drug and alcohol abuse among the seriously mentally ill. Schizophrenics appear to be particularly susceptible to the negative effects of substance abuse. These include psychiatric and social complications, with antisocial behaviour, particularly violence emerging as one of the most worrying features. This review examines the strength of the association and explores the possible explanations for the apparent link between schizophrenia, substance abuse and violence.MethodThe literature was searched using Medline, supplemented with a manual literature search.ResultsVery few articles specifically approached the problem of violence among substance abusing schizophrenics, but over 80 papers were identified which were helpful in exploring the link between dangerous behaviour and substance abuse by schizophrenics.ConclusionsWhile there is circumstantial evidence to support the hypothesis that schizop...

Cannabis and Tramadol are Prevalent among the First Episode Drug-Induced Psychosis in the Egyptian Population: Single Center Experience

(1) Background: Cannabis and tramadol are featuring prominently in Egypt; however, their prevalence in first episode psychosis is still uncertain. We aimed at determining the prevalence of cannabis and tramadol among the first-psychotic episode in Egyptian inpatients and to compare the demographic and psychopathological profiles of substance abusers versus patients with the comorbid diagnosis. (2) Methods: Patients presented with psychotic episode and admitted to Mansoura Psychiatric Department were recruited. Diagnosis of psychiatric illness and drug/substance use was carried out using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria. Standard urine tests and thin layer chromatography were performed to detect cannabis and tramadol. (3) Results: Of the 100 subjects in the study, the majority (55.6%) of patients were cannabis-only positive. Overall, cannabis-alone showed the highest frequency of substance used among the currently diagnosed psychotic disorders. According to urine tests, cannabis demonstrates the higher frequency of intake in both studied groups. 66.7% of the studied population had 1-5 years self-reported histories of substance abuse predating the first psychotic episode. (4) Conclusions: The percentage of cannabis and tramadol among the first episode psychotic patients has been unexpectedly high and the standard urine testing should be considered in emergency and mental health facilities.

A Study of Prevalence & Pattern of Substance Use among the Patients Suffering From Psychotic Disorders

2018

Introduction: The co-occurrence of Psychosis and Substance use is prevalent and is associated with significant clinical and social problems. More than three fourths of all schizophrenic patients smoke cigarettes; 30-50 % may meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence. Aims & Objectives: 1.To evaluates the Prevalence and Pattern of Substance use in the patients with Psychotic disorders & to co-relate with various socio-demographic factors. 2. To find severity of Psychosis & substance use & to find correlation between them. Materials & Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out at, Psychiatry OPD, PDU Gov. Medical College & Hospital, Rajkot. Systematic randomization sampling method with fraction of 8 was used for case selection and total 200 patients were approached. BPRS, FTND & LDQ was used as instrument. Results & Discussion: We could find the comorbidity of substance use in 70.5% patients. The substance we found in our study was tobacco (68%), Alcohol (6%) & ...

Substance abuse in first-episode schizophrenic patients: a retrospective study

Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, 2006

Several studies suggest a high comorbidity of substance abuse and schizophrenia, associated with higher frequency of relapse, more positive symptoms and depression, cognitive impairment, poorer outcome and treatment response. A high incidence of substance abuse is also observed in first-episode patients. Among patients with substance abuse, the onset precedes the onset of psychosis of several years in most cases. All

Acute Effects of Drug Abuse in Schizophrenic Patients: Clinical Observations and Patients’ Self-Reports

Schizophrenia Bulletin, 1990

Substance abuse among schizophrenic patients is an increasingly recognized clinical phenomenon. The authors review experimental and observed clinical effects of drug abuse and patients' subjective experiences of acute intoxication. Though drug abuse may exacerbate psychotic symptoms, abused drugs may also lead to transient symptom reduction in subgroups of schizophrenic patients. Some patients report feeling less dysphoric, less anxious, and more energetic while intoxicated. Models of the relationship of drug abuse and schizophrenia, particularly the self-medication hypothesis, are discussed in reference to these data.