Original scientific paper

COMORBIDITY OF HARMFUL USE OF ALCOHOL IN POPULATION OF SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS

Ljubica Leposavić ; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Draga Dimitrijević ; Clinic for Psychiatric Diseases
Snežana Đorđević ; Special Hospital for Psychiatric Disorders Kovin, Serbia
Ivana Leposavić ; Clinic of Psychiatry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Gordana Nikolić Balkoski ; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Background: Numerous studies carried out during the last twenty years point to an increase of co-morbidity of harmful use of
alcohole caused disorders in the population of schizophrenic patients. The results show rate of this kind of co-morbidity between 35
and 80%. The aims of the investigation are: establishing frequency of harmful use of alcohol in the patients with diagnosis of
schizophrenia, observed against the population statistics data; determination of possible predictors of harmful use of alcohol in the
population of schizophrenic patients (adolsecent bihevioural problems, child neuroticism); determination of heritage role in the
development of the both nosologic entities and the analysis of the outcomes of harmful use of alcohol in the population of
schizophrenic patients (suicide attempts, cognitive impairment).
Subjects and methods: The population included 50 inpatients between 20 and 50 years, with primary diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Diagnostic procedure was carried out by application: Structured clinical interview ICD 10 (Mini International Neuropsychiatric
Interview), Structured questionnaire for the assessment characteristics and effects of harmful use of alcohol in the population of
schizophrenics - modified version, Mini mental state scale and Heteroanamnestic questionnaire. Comparison was made between the
patients with schizophrenia and the patients with co-morbidity.
Results: The results revealed significantly higher rate harmful use of alcohol co-morbidity in the male population. There is a
prominent significant difference in alcoholism heritage in co-morbidity group. A statistically significant difference between the subgroups
was found in the frequency of child neuroticism and adolescent behavioral problems. The results point to a higher suicidal
risk and higher rate of cognitive impairment in the co-morbidity sub-group.
Conclusions: Young male with schizophrenia and family history of alcoholism are especially susceptible by this type of comorbidity.
Presence of child neuroticism may represent „protective factor” for development of harmful use of alcohol. The study
stressed some serious consequences of this type of co-morbidity: increase rate of suicide attempts, as well as more frequent
development of organic brain tissue impairment.

Keywords

co-morbidity – schizophrenia - harmful use of alcohol

Hrčak ID:

162378

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/162378

Publication date:

9.3.2015.

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