Alcohol use and abuse in schizophrenia. A prospective community study.
The authors examined patterns of alcohol use among 115 DSM-III schizophrenics discharged from the state hospital and participating in an urban aftercare program. According to ratings by mobile outreach clinicians, 45% of the patients used alcohol, and 22% were clearly abusing alcohol. Alcohol use was associated with younger age, male sex, street drug use, medication noncompliance, lack of psychosocial supports, increased symptomatology, chronic medical problems, and a higher rate of rehospitalization. Even minimal drinking, not considered alcohol abuse by clinicians, predicted rehospitalization during 1-year prospective follow-up.
Drake
R E
RE
Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts.
Osher
F C
FC
Wallach
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012940:Social Problems; D013997:Time Factors