Abstract
Objective: Some studies have found that high levels of impulsivity and sensation seeking, particularly disinhibition are associated with substance abuse in patients with schizophrenia, as in the general population. However, no study has assessed impulsivity and sensation seeking specifically in schizophrenia patients with alcohol abuse or dependence. Materials and methods: We compared impulsivity and sensation seeking in a group of schizophrenia patients (DSM-III-R criteria) with lifetime alcohol abuse or dependence (n = 34) and in a group without lifetime substance abuse or dependence (n = 66). The patients were assessed using the composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI) for DSM-III-R disorders, the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), the Barratt impulsivity scale (BIS), the Zuckerman seeking sensation scale (SSS), and the physical anhedonia scale (PAS). Results: The mean scores for impulsivity and sensation seeking were higher in the group with lifetime alcohol abuse or dependence than in the group without substance abuse or dependence (BIS: 63.4 ± 18.7 vs 51.3 ± 14.2 respectively, ANOVA: F = 11.12, p = 0.001; SSS: 17.6 ± 5.9 vs 13.5 ± 6.7 respectively, ANOVA: F = 7.45, p = 0.008). There was no significant difference between the two groups on PAS score. Conclusion: Increased impulsivity or sensation seeking may be a link between schizophrenia and alcohol abuse or dependence.
Highlights
The high prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUD, i.e. alcohol abuse or dependence) among patients with schizophrenia is well established: in the Koskinen et al.’ meta-analysis of 60 studies, the median current rate of AUD was 9.4% and median of lifetime AUD prevalence 20.6% (Koskinen et al, 2009)
Increased impulsivity or sensation seeking may be a link between schizophrenia and alcohol abuse or dependence
We previously found that high levels of impulsivity and sensation seeking, regarding the disinhibition dimension, were associated with substance abuse in patients with schizophrenia (Dervaux et al, 2001; Gut-Fayand et al, 2001)
Summary
The high prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUD, i.e. alcohol abuse or dependence) among patients with schizophrenia is well established: in the Koskinen et al.’ meta-analysis of 60 studies, the median current rate of AUD was 9.4% and median of lifetime AUD prevalence 20.6% (Koskinen et al, 2009). The high prevalence of substance abuse in patients with schizophrenia has sometimes been interpreted as self-medication for negative symptoms, anhedonia, depression or neuroleptic side effects, but no convincing evidence supports this idea (Mueser et al, 1998; D’Souza et al, 2006). We previously found that high levels of impulsivity and sensation seeking, regarding the disinhibition dimension, were associated with substance abuse in patients with schizophrenia (Dervaux et al, 2001; Gut-Fayand et al, 2001). This was not studied with regard to the different substances of abuse. This was not studied with regard to the different substances of abuse. Mueser et al (1990) stressed the need to assess the abuse of specific classes of substances and analyze the data
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