3.2.2. HOW DOES ALCOHOL AFFECT SCHIZOPHRENIA AND ITS TREATMENT?
Alcohol can have a serious impact on schizophrenia, often making symptoms worse and affecting a person’s mental state.
Since antipsychotic medications are primarily processed by the liver, alcohol can interfere with this process, reducing their effectiveness or causing stronger side effects.
The global impact of alcohol use disorder
Alcohol use disorder remains a major contributor to illness and death worldwide. Globally, an estimated 400 million people (or 7% of the world’s population aged 15 years and older) live with alcohol use disorders.
This disorder occurs when someone loses control over their drinking, leading to dependence, increased tolerance, and serious negative effects on their mental, physical, and social well-being.
It accounts for about 10% of the global burden of disease related to substance use and mental health disorders.
Alcohol use disorder is highly disabling and is linked to numerous health problems, both physical and psychological.
When schizophrenia meets alcohol use disorder
When someone with schizophrenia also has an alcohol use disorder (AUD), it can make their illness harder to manage.
This may lead, among others, to:
worsening psychotic symptoms,
more frequent relapses,
lower quality of life,
reduce the effectiveness of antipsychotic medications,
difficulties adhering to treatment.
Studies have also found that those who drink heavily tend to have a longer history of schizophrenia and often require extended stays in mental health facilities.
For instance, chronic schizophrenia patients with alcohol use disorders tend to experience more severe positive symptoms, such (hallucinations or delusions), and greater levels of depression and negative symptoms (like emotional flatness) and suicidal behavior compared to those who have never used alcohol.
In cases of first-episode psychosis, alcohol use before hospitalization has been linked to more frequent positive symptoms, while also being associated with negative symptoms.
Moreover, alcohol consumption negatively affects cognitive function and reduces the quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia.
It also contributes to an increased risk of death from various causes in this population.
Early intervention matters
Treating schizophrenia alone may not be enough to prevent the onset of alcohol use disorder. Identifying individuals at risk early is crucial for providing timely preventive measures.
Addressing alcohol use before it escalates can help reduce its harmful impact on health, improve treatment adherence, and lower hospital readmission rates. Early intervention plays a key role in enhancing overall well-being.
