Co-Occurring Schizophrenia and Addiction

Causes and Treatment

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Current research has found that people who are struggling with schizophrenia are also more likely to develop substance use disorders (SUD). These cases of co-existing mental health disorders and SUD are what we call co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis, or comorbidity.

These issues are much more common than many people think. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 7.7 million adults have co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders, including, but not limited to, schizophrenia.

Thankfully, with professional help and supervised treatment, overcoming co-occurring disorders is possible. So, if you or any of your loved ones suffer from these serious health concerns, this article is for you.

Below, we’ll walk you through all you need to know about the relationship of schizophrenia and drug addiction. We’ll start by defining schizophrenia and end with the effective treatment options and approaches available to combat this comorbidity.

Schizophrenia

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health issue that affects a minority of the American population. According to the American Psychiatric Association, less than 1% of Americans are found to be schizophrenic.

As a serious mental illness, schizophrenia affects how an individual feels, thinks, and behaves. Often, schizophrenic patients can appear out of touch with reality, a symptom most family members and friends may find distressing.

These perceived abnormal symptoms can make it harder for people with schizophrenia to participate in everyday activities, alienating them from their peers.

While there’s no cure for this mental condition, effective treatment options are now available, and people who have undergone treatments can re-engage in their daily lives and achieve independence.

Common Causes of Schizophrenia

The direct cause of schizophrenia remains unknown. However, mental health experts and researchers believe it to be related to the following risk factors:

  • Genetics: Scientists found genetic mutations disrupting the brain’s frontal lobe development common in schizophrenic patients.
  • Heredity: People with close relatives who suffer from schizophrenia are also found to have an increased risk of developing the same mental illness.
  • Brain chemistry: Imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters particularly dopamine and glutamate, affecting thought patterns, cognition, mood, and behaviors.
  • Environmental factors: Complications during pregnancy, a mother’s exposure to toxins and drugs, and malnutrition of the fetus are all thought to contribute to schizophrenia.

Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia

As with any mental illness, it’s crucial to identify schizophrenia symptoms and seek professional help at the early onset of psychosis. These symptoms can vary from person to person, but they generally include one or more of the following:

  • Positive symptoms: Positive or psychotic symptoms refer to changes in a person’s thoughts, actions, and perceived experiences. It typically involves hallucinations, delusions, and irrational thinking.
  • Negative symptoms: These are psychosis signs that refer to the decrease or total loss of the individual’s normal functions. It can include social withdrawal, difficulty expressing emotions, and lack of interest in daily activities.
  • Cognitive symptoms: Schizophrenic signs that affect the patient’s brain. The person may exhibit problems with concentration, attention, and even memory loss, making it difficult to converse or learn new information.

Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse

About 50% of people with schizophrenia suffer or have suffered from substance addiction. However, although closely linked, the direct relationship between psychosis and drug abuse remains unclear.

Some experts attribute this comorbidity to the overlap of brain circuits affected by schizophrenia and SUD. Others believe that the mental condition may be affecting the brain’s reward systems, making substance use more gratifying.

Psychiatric professionals also think that people suffering from severe mental illnesses may be using drugs as a form of self-medication. They rely on drug use because they feel it alleviates their symptoms.

Although further research is needed on this subject, recent data indicates that people with schizophrenia are more prone to suffer from addiction. Generally, they’re more predisposed to develop cannabis, cocaine, and alcohol abuse disorders.

Nicotine, for one, has been the leading addiction among schizophrenic patients. Although numbers vary, some studies noted as high as 90% of people with schizophrenia smoke. This high usage rate could be because of the belief that nicotine reduces the side effects of their medication.

The prevalence of these co-occurring conditions is a serious problem that may result in worse outcomes. For recovering schizophrenic patients, SUD can be destructive in several ways and has been shown to cause:

  • Longer hospitalizations
  • Higher risk of violence
  • Difficulties in daily functioning
  • Increased chances of self-harm or suicide

Treatment for Co-occurring Schizophrenia and Addiction

There are effective treatment options for co-occurring schizophrenia and substance addiction. Medical experts typically address the symptoms of both disorders simultaneously.

Here are some common forms of dual diagnosis treatment involving psychosis and illicit drug addiction in patients.

Detoxification

Comorbidity treatments typically begin with detox. That is, an intervention aimed at removing drugs from the user’s systems.

One of the primary purposes of detoxification is to manage withdrawal symptoms safely, which occurs when the person suffering from addiction abruptly stops taking the substance.

The type of drug and the severity of addiction usually affect how long detoxification takes. Other factors that may extend withdrawal symptoms include the duration of addiction and the method of drug use.

Antipsychotic Medication

Once the body is clear from the substance, healthcare providers can better assess the co-occurring schizophrenia and begin the treatment.

Antipsychotic medications, also known as neuroleptics or tranquilizers, are typically provided in this step. These prescriptions will help address the brain’s chemical imbalances and alleviate psychosis symptoms in the patient.

Some antipsychotic medications are given as monthly injections, while others are usually taken daily in pill or liquid forms. They have a calming effect, reducing confusion and hallucination in a person having severe psychosis episodes.

Psychotherapy and Counseling

Along with the medications, comprehensive treatment plans typically combine psychotherapy and counseling. These psychosocial interventions help patients address the underlying causes of their disorders, teaching healthy coping mechanisms in the process.

Most programs include:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a widely applied treatment for psychotic disorders and drug addiction. In practice, it helps recovering patients become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and how they relate to their healing. CBT has also been shown to help with anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder.
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT is another form of talk therapy based on CBT. Its primary goal is to teach people how to cope with stress while healing, managing emotions, and facilitating meaningful relationships with others. It’s also used for treating inpatients with severe mental health conditions and recurring suicidal ideations.
  • Group therapy: A form of DBT, group therapy is a valuable treatment approach with several benefits. By sharing their experiences, people in group therapy typically bond and grow closer together. It allows them to form support networks and socialize with peers who understand the struggle.
  • Family therapy: Comorbid conditions not only affect the individual. It also negatively impacts the family, impairing relationships and harming your loved ones’ well-being. Family therapy recognizes these effects and seeks to support the person in recovery without sidelining the entire family’s needs.

Assertive Community Treatments (ACT)

Assertive community treatment is a team-based and holistic approach designed specifically for people suffering from schizophrenia and drug addiction. It provides multidisciplinary care to the patients, to recover their functioning in their respective communities.

Ultimately, ACT helps the patient become more independent and to reintegrate into society. It also aims to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and homelessness due to comorbid mental health and substance abuse disorders.

In an ACT, treatment services aren’t provided in clinics or hospitals but in the patient’s home or other community locations, including public parks, restaurants, or coffee shops.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about schizophrenia and drug addiction you might find interesting:

  • Can drugs cause schizophrenia?
  • Does schizophrenia cause drug addiction?

Final Thoughts

Addiction, paired with mental health conditions like schizophrenia, is a complex issue that requires extensive and careful medical attention.

But don’t worry. Although it takes time, healing is possible, even with these comorbid disorders. Centers like Live Free Recovery Services will provide the most effective and personalized interventions to help you recover.

Get your life back. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

References

Published on: 2024-09-09
Updated on: 2024-09-09


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