Illicit drug use in patients with psychotic disorders compared with that in the general population: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
Prevalence estimates of illicit drug use in psychotic disorders vary between studies, and only a few studies compared prevalence estimates with those in the general population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study comparing 148 stable-phase patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with 329 representative general citizens of Oslo. A total of 849 patients from the same hospital department in the same time period constituted a patient reference group.


RESULTS
Lifetime illicit drug use was 44% higher (P < 0.001) in study patients than in the general population sample; while lifetime use of amphetamine/cocaine was 160% higher (P < 0.001). No differences were found between user groups for sociodemographic characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with psychotic disorders in stable phase had a markedly higher lifetime use of any illicit substance, especially amphetamine/cocaine, than the general population. They also seemed to use drugs more periodically. The same sociodemographic characteristics were associated with increased illicit drug use in both groups.
Ringen
P A
PA
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway, and Division of Psychiatry, Ulleval University Hospital, N-0407 Oslo, Norway. p.a.ringen@medisin.uio.no
Melle
I
I
Birkenaes
A B
AB
Engh
J A
JA
Faerden
A
A
Jónsdóttir
H
H
Nesvåg
R
R
Vaskinn
A
A
Friis
S
S
Larsen
F
F
Opjordsmoen
S
S
Sundet
K
K
Andreassen
O A
OA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
D013287:Illicit Drugs