title: Accuracy of self-reported medical problems in patients with alcohol dependence and co-occurring schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schizophrenia and alcohol dependence (AD) are both major risk factors for a variety of medical problems, yet little is known about the medical status of patients in whom both conditions coexist.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study are to assess accuracy of self-reported medical problems and to compare the accuracy reports in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and co-occurring AD compared to patients with AD only and to controls. Our hypothesis was that medical problems are under-reported in patients with co-occurring disorders, possibly due to the combination of alcohol use and symptoms of schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported medical diagnoses were recorded and compared to medical records obtained from all area hospitals in 42 patients with schizophrenia and AD, 44 patients with schizoaffective disorder and AD, 41 patients with AD only, and 15 control subjects. Patients underwent medical history, physical examination, and review of medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and co-occurring AD underreported their medical problems significantly more than patients with AD only and controls. Accuracy of self report was significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders plus co-occurring alcohol dependence than in AD alone or in controls. The most commonly underreported diagnoses included coronary artery disease, chronic renal failure, seizure disorder, hyperlipidemia, asthma and hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to detect potentially unreported medical conditions in patients with co-occurring schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and alcohol dependence, the use of targeted screening questionnaires is recommended in addition to physical examination and thorough review of medical records.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States. meszaroz@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Zsuzsa Szombathyne
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Meszaros
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dimmock
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ploutz-Snyder
authors.forename: Sumerendra Vir Singh
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Ynesse
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abdul-Malak
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Batki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057566:Self Report; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires