Abstract
To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of available treatments for cocaine dependence in schizophrenic patients. We searched articles published between May 2002 and June 2012 in the following databases: Scopus, Pubmed and Web of Knowledge. The key words utilised were "schizophrenia", "dementia praecox", "schizophrenic disorder", "cocaine related disorder", "cocaine abuse", "cocaine addiction", "cocaine dependence", "treatment", "therapeutic", and "drug therapy". Original articles in English, Portuguese and Spanish were selected. Controlled, double-blind and open-label studies involving only human subjects were included in this review. We found studies on typical and atypical antipsychotics and one monoamine transporter antagonist. There were few indications of the effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic medications for the treatment of cocaine dependence in patients with schizophrenia. We suggest that further studies be conducted with atypical antipsychotic medicationsand greater methodological strictness, including using a placebo group in the studies, so that health professionals can determine the real effectiveness of this class of medication for the treatment of cocaine dependence in schizophrenic patients.
Highlights
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects approximately 24 million people worldwide, mainly those between 15 and 35 years of age [1]
We suggest that further studies be conducted with atypical antipsychotic medicationsand greater methodological strictness, including using a placebo group in the studies, so that health professionals can determine the real effectiveness of this class of medication for the treatment of cocaine dependence in schizophrenic patients
Current Neuropharmacology, 2013, Vol 11, No 5 485 pharmacological treatment for cocaine abuse or dependence in schizophrenic patients were included in this review
Summary
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects approximately 24 million people worldwide, mainly those between 15 and 35 years of age [1]. The primary neurochemical model that explains the symptoms of schizophrenia is the dopaminergic theory, which asserts that a hyperactive dopaminergic system in the mesolimbic pathway is responsible for the positive symptoms of the disorder. The dopaminergic hypofunction in the mesocortical pathway, on the other hand, is related to the negative symptoms, which is reduced emotional, motivational and cognitive capacity [2, 3]. Substance abuse among individuals with schizophrenia is very high. The model of dysfunction in the circuit of the brain reward system is one theory that attempts to explain the high rate of co-morbidity of substance abuse and schizophrenia
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