Antidepressant for substance-abusing schizophrenic patients: a minireview.
1. Substance abuse and post-psychotic depression are both frequently encountered concomitants of schizophrenia. 2. Substance abuse may be associated with depression-like symptomatology in the course of schizophrenia, and patients may attempt to self-medicate these symptoms with substances of abuse. 3. Antidepressant medication has been found to be a useful adjunct to treatment in at least some cases of substance abuse and some cases of post-psychotic depression. 4. Preliminary evidence exists suggesting that adjunctive antidepressant medication, added to a neuroleptic, may be useful for at least some stable dysphoric substance-abusing schizophrenic patients. 5. It is important to attempt to rule out even subtle neuroleptic-induced akinesia in such patients with a vigorous trial of antiparkinsonian medication.
Siris
S G
SG
Hillside Hospital Division of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, N.Y.
Bermanzohn
P C
PC
Mason
S E
SE
Shuwall
M A
MA
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents