Problem substance use and schizophrenia

P. Bates and J. Rutherford

Tolworth Hospital, Red Lion Road, Surbiton KT6 7QU, UK

McCreadie et al (2002) report on the problem use of drugs and alcohol by people with schizophrenia. This is an excellent study as the pattern of use by patients is compared with controls from the general population, although the findings — that problem use is greater among patients — are unsurprising. It is impressive that the study included tobacco use, often disregarded as a ‘problem’ drug despite the obvious financial implications for patients surviving on state benefits. Previous studies quoted in the paper indicate that patients with schizophrenia often have been smoking for many years prior to the onset of the illness.

We are very interested to know whether the data collected for the study show that particular groups of patients appear to be more at risk from problem substance use, in order to focus efforts on helping them. Our experience is that admission to a psychiatric ward leads to increased tobacco use, and patients who have given up smoking recommence and continue smoking post-discharge, despite anti-smoking strategies. Also, we would like to know whether the study shows, or the authors know of, cultures that may be at lesser risk for developing problem use, accepting that numbers of ethnic minorities in the study sample may be small.

EDITED BY KHALIDA ISMAIL

REFERENCES

McCreadie, R. on behalf of the Scottish Comorbidity Study Group (2002) Use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco by people with schizophrenia: case—control study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 181, 321-325.[Abstract/Free Full Text]


 

Author's reply

R. G. McCreadie

Department of Clinical Research, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries DG1 4TG, UK

EDITED BY KHALIDA ISMAIL

Bates & Rutherford raise some interesting points. I am impressed by their experience that admission to a psychiatric ward leads to increased tobacco use; this is certainly worthy of more-detailed study.

Smoking habits of people with schizophrenia probably do differ in different cultures. Colleagues in south India, where I have carried out much research, have found that people with schizophrenia probably smoke less than the general population. This is largely for economic reasons. Most are unemployed or in part-time employment. There are no state benefits, and therefore patients cannot afford to buy cigarettes.





This Article
Full Text (PDF)
Submit a response
Alert me when this article is cited
Alert me when eLetters are posted
Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Email this article to a friend
Similar articles in this journal
Similar articles in PubMed
Alert me to new issues of the journal
Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Articles by Bates, P.
Articles by McCreadie, R. G.
Articles citing this Article
PubMed
PubMed Citation
Articles by Bates, P.
Articles by McCreadie, R. G.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals