Journal article
Comorbidity of substance abuse and schizophrenia: the role of pre-morbid adjustment
Psychological medicine, Vol.22(2), pp.379-388
05/1992
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291700030324
PMID: 1615105
Abstract
Co-morbid substance use and abuse is common in schizophrenic patients, and the role of substance abuse in initiating and maintaining psychosis has important definitional and aetiological implications. We investigated the issue in a cohort of 131 schizophrenic patients. We found non-users (N = 67) were similar to pathological users (N = 64) in current symptomatology and clinical history. The pathological users did, however, have better pre-morbid adjustment levels. Only alcohol use and to some extent cannabis use contributed to this effect; use of stimulants or hallucinogens did not. These results indicate the importance of evaluating the various types of substance used when attempting to explore the significance of co-morbidity. The results also suggest that co-morbidity of substance abuse and schizophrenia may be explained by a common factor antecedent to both: better pre-morbid adjustment. A two-stage model is proposed to explain these findings: increased sociability increases exposure to opportunities of substance use in a subset of patients; subsequent onset of psychotic illness accelerates the use to a pathological level as the individual attempts to cope with the stress of the developing mental illness.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Comorbidity of substance abuse and schizophrenia: the role of pre-morbid adjustment
- Creators
- Stephan Arndt - Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USAGary Tyrrell - Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USAMichael Flaum - Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USANancy C Andreasen - Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychological medicine, Vol.22(2), pp.379-388
- DOI
- 10.1017/S0033291700030324
- PMID
- 1615105
- NLM abbreviation
- Psychol Med
- ISSN
- 0033-2917
- eISSN
- 1469-8978
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, UK
- Number of pages
- 10
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/1992
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biostatistics; Nursing; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984003414502771
Metrics
15 Record Views