title: Influence of alcoholism on the prognosis of schizophrenic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to investigate possible differences in clinical, social and hospital prognosis in schizophrenics with or without codiagnosed alcoholism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample was selected by a two-stage random sample of sets from the total of 10,569 schizophrenic patients registered in the Croatian Psychotic Case Register in the period 1962-71. The resulting 449 schizophrenic patients were psychiatrically examined in 1973-75 wherever they were found--at home, in a hospital or in a social-health institution. Of these original patients, 312 with or without a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcoholism who were found at home were followed up until the final examination in 1990-91.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rate changes in 37 patients with the dual diagnosis were significant in the following characteristics: they were more often men, married, with a paranoid-hallucinatory disease form, were aggressive during examination, and were without psychiatric aftercare or regular psychopharmacotherapy (p < .01); they came from rural areas, had a mixed clinical picture with a deteriorating disease course and were less communicative and socially functional, and were without work self-initiative and personal income (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Schizophrenic patients found at home with codiagnosed alcoholism have poorer clinical, hospital, social and life prognosis and need longer hospitalization. They represent a special subgroup of schizophrenics requiring special therapeutic approach and early identification, inasmuch as their course of the disease has a tendency toward rapid deterioration. Prevention of alcoholism and its adequate treatment have far reaching implications for the prognosis of schizophrenic illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Forensic Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Bolnicka, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kozarić-Kovacić
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Folnegović-Smalc
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Folnegović
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maruĭć
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016896:Treatment Outcome