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VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2024 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Patients Suffering from Schizophrenia: A Cross-sectional Study

Anweshan Ghosh, Swadesh Kanti Mondal, Gulshan Narula, Prosenjit Ghosh

Keywords : Alcohol, Cannabis, Dual diagnosis, Opioids, Schizophrenia, Substance dependence

Citation Information : Ghosh A, Mondal SK, Narula G, Ghosh P. Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Patients Suffering from Schizophrenia: A Cross-sectional Study. Ind J Priv Psychiatry 2024; 18 (1):26-30.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10067-0145

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 03-01-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Compared with non-abusing individuals who have schizophrenia, those with co-occurring schizophrenia and substance use have been found to have higher rates of homelessness, more unemployment, and poorer overall functioning. Various factors like genetic and environmental vulnerability, including family and social influences, early life trauma, and poor frontal lobe functioning, contribute to the development of psychiatric distress and drug abuse. Aims and objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of substance dependence in cases of schizophrenia, and to check the correlation of severity of psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia with severity of substance dependence. Materials and methods: This study was a cross-sectional non-interventional hospital-based study. Diagnosis of schizophrenia was made according to the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10). The severity of symptoms of schizophrenia was assessed using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the severity of substance dependence was assessed using Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: A total of 50 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia as per the ICD-10 criteria were recruited after their informed consent. Majority of the participants were young lower middle-class male; most of the participants were married (80%), homemakers or students by profession (22% each), belonging to a rural area (54%). Fifty-four percent of them (n = 27) reported having comorbid substance use disorder. The mean BPRS score was found to be 62.4 ± 22.36, while the mean SDS score was 5.3 ± 5.17. The BPRS score was found to be significantly correlated with the SDS score (r = 0.949, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A significant correlation was found between severity of psychiatric symptoms and severity of substance dependence.

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