BACKGROUND: Few epidemiological studies have assessed the extent and nature of comorbid non-alcohol substance misuse in people with schizophrenia in the community in the UK. AIMS: To study the extent and nature of comorbid non-alcohol substance misuse in people with schizophrenia in central London. METHOD: Subjects were identified in an epidemiological census survey of South Westminster. Standardised assessment of each subject included demographic data, ratings of mental state and movement disorder and questioning about drug and alcohol misuse. RESULTS: Individuals with schizophrenia or related psychoses were identified (n=352) and 57 (16%) reported a lifetime history of non-alcohol substance misuse. Age and gender were the main variables relevant to the extent and pattern of misuse. Self-reported non-alcohol substance misuse showed no significant relationship with a range of outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of subjects reporting non-alcohol substance misuse is comparable with figures from the USA. The reports of lifetime misuse most commonly referred to cannabis, psychostimulants, LSD, opiates and anticholinergics. Misuse was concentrated in those younger than 36 years and was reported more often by males.
BACKGROUND: Few epidemiological studies have assessed the extent and nature of comorbid non-alcohol substance misuse in people with schizophrenia in the community in the UK. AIMS: To study the extent and nature of comorbid non-alcohol substance misuse in people with schizophrenia in central London. METHOD: Subjects were identified in an epidemiological census survey of South Westminster. Standardised assessment of each subject included demographic data, ratings of mental state and movement disorder and questioning about drug and alcohol misuse. RESULTS: Individuals with schizophrenia or related psychoses were identified (n=352) and 57 (16%) reported a lifetime history of non-alcohol substance misuse. Age and gender were the main variables relevant to the extent and pattern of misuse. Self-reported non-alcohol substance misuse showed no significant relationship with a range of outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of subjects reporting non-alcohol substance misuse is comparable with figures from the USA. The reports of lifetime misuse most commonly referred to cannabis, psychostimulants, LSD, opiates and anticholinergics. Misuse was concentrated in those younger than 36 years and was reported more often by males.
Authors: Dusan Hirjak; Peter Gass; Michael Deuschle; F Markus Leweke; Andreas Böhringer; Nadine Schenkel; Doris Borgwedel; Marco Heser; Antje Breisacher; Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2020-03 Impact factor: 1.214
Authors: John H Krystal; D Cyril D'Souza; Jürgen Gallinat; Naomi Driesen; Anissa Abi-Dargham; Ismene Petrakis; Andreas Heinz; Godfrey Pearlson Journal: Neurotox Res Date: 2006-12 Impact factor: 3.911
Authors: Basappa K Venkatesh; Jagadisha Thirthalli; Magadi N Naveen; Kengeri V Kishorekumar; Udupi Arunachala; Ganesan Venkatasubramanian; Doddaballapura K Subbakrishna; Bangalore N Gangadhar Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2008-10 Impact factor: 49.548