Psychiatr. praxi 2017; 18(1): 26-29 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2017.006

Choice of pharmacotherapy in patient s with schizophrenia and co-occurring substance use

prof. MUDr. Eva Češková, CSc.^{1, 2, 3, 4}, PharmDr. Lenka Sušilová⁵, MUDr. Libor Ustohal, Ph.D.^{1, 2}

1CEITEC MU, Brno, 2Psychiatrická klinika LF a MU FN Brno, 3KNP LF Univerzity Ostrava,, 4Oddělení psychiatrie, FN Ostrava, 5Ústav ochrany a podpory zdraví, LF MU Brno

Substance use disorder is the most frequent comorbidity in patients suffering from schizophrenia. It is associated with more

frequent and longer hospitalizations and others indicators of a poor outcome. Further, schizophrenia with comorbid substance

use disorder (dual diagnosis) is characterized by a high non-adherence and frequent somatic diseases. The main treatment is

represented by antipsychotics. Especially clozapine may decrease the craving and amount of the abused substance. In spite of the

high frequency and clinical consequences we have at our disposal very few controlled studies and particularly in the long-term

treatment of schizophrenia a co-occurring substance use is neglected.

Keywords: substance disorder, schizophrenia, dual diagnosis, treatment

Published: May 1, 2017  Show citation