title: Substance abuse in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: The comorbidity of schizophrenia and substance abuse has attracted increasing attention in the past years, with multiple potential links, including genetic vulnerability, neurobiological aspects, side effects of medications, and psychosocial factors being under discussion. The link between the use of substances and the development of psychoses is demonstrated by the high prevalence of substance abuse in schizophrenia. Apart from alcohol misuse, substances commonly abused in this patient group include nicotine, cocaine, and cannabis. In particular, heavy cannabis abuse has been reported to be a stressor eliciting relapse in schizophrenic patients. In general, substance use in psychosis is associated with poorer outcomes, including increased psychotic symptoms and poorer treatment compliance. Since both disorders have been observed to be closely interdependent, a particular treatment for schizophrenic patients with comorbidity of substance abuse is needed in order to provide more effective care. In this article, we discuss various potential modes of interaction and interdependence, and the possibility of embarking on new therapeutic paths for treating this particular population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winklbaur
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thau
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine; D003042:Cocaine