Schizophrenia and SUD: What's the Connection?

Mental illness has been on the rise for decades. As time goes on, it seems that the cases become more intense or severe. It's not uncommon for people to experience anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder (SUD). However, some cases involving complex mental health conditions require more intense treatment. For instance, when someone with schizophrenia uses alcohol and other drugs, their symptoms become even more complex. So what exactly is the connection between schizophrenia and SUD? Can people seek treatment for both? What should individuals do if they've become dependent on drugs or alcohol? How can they cope instead of using drugs and alcohol to cope with their schizophrenic symptoms? 

West Coast Recovery Centers is committed to providing comprehensive care and support to clients struggling with mental health challenges. People must be conscious of the impact substance use can have on these mental health challenges. Further, they must understand why treatment for both is critical to recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use or a mental health condition, help is available. Contact West Coast Recovery Centers to learn more about our programs today. 

Understanding Schizophrenia

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes schizophrenia as a “serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.” Individuals with schizophrenia can often feel like they've lost touch with reality. Further, this loss of touch can cause significant distress to them and their friends and family. Of course, symptoms will vary from one person to the next. However, they may begin hearing voices, experiencing paranoia, and struggling with functioning day-to-day. 

Like other mental health conditions, there's no one known cause of schizophrenia. Instead, it's usually caused by a combination of factors, including: 

• Family history of schizophrenia 
• Differences in brain chemistry 
• Brain structure vulnerabilities
• Stressful or dangerous environments 

As we'll discuss further, misuse of alcohol or drugs can also impact someone's struggle with schizophrenia. It can trigger psychotic episodes and the withdrawal of long-term substance use can also trigger episodes of psychosis. 

Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Of course, as with any mental health condition, the first step toward seeking treatment for schizophrenia is recognizing and acknowledging the problem. To do that, individuals must recognize the signs and symptoms. Seeking help as early as possible is critical to preventing severe consequences from an untreated condition and managing schizophrenic symptoms. 

Schizophrenic symptoms will vary from person to person. However, according to the NIMH, they generally fall into three categories; psychotic, negative, and cognitive. Specific symptoms may include: 

• Hallucinations
• Delusions 
• Thought disorder
• Social withdrawal 
• Reduced emotional expression 
• Trouble concentrating or remembering things 
• Motor function impairments 
• Irritability and depressive symptoms 
• Difficult with day-to-day responsibilities
• The incomplete inability to function 

How Is Schizophrenia Treated?

If left untreated, schizophrenia can overtake a person's life. Many may avoid treatment because of stigmatization surrounding the topic. However, reducing stigma is a critical step, and a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. According to the NIMH, current schizophrenia treatments focus on helping individual “manage their symptoms, improve day-to-day functioning, and achieve personal life goals.” Those goals may include completing their education, pursuing a new character, or having more fulfilling relationships. 

Treatment for schizophrenia may include: 

• Medication: Specifically antipsychotics, to help reduce both the intensity and frequency of psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, and/or paranoia)
• Psychotherapy: Helps people learn coping skills, understand and manage symptoms, and improve social skills 
• Social skills training: May be used together with psychotherapy to help people improve their ability to function day-to-day 
• Peer support groups: Can benefit people by connecting with others experiencing similar situations 
• Family therapy: May help individuals by involving family members in the treatment process to improve support and education

Further, for reasons we'll discuss next, substance abuse treatment can also be vital.

Are Schizophrenia and SUD Connected?

In general, research shows high rates of co-occurring mental health conditions in individuals who abuse substances. Similarly, there are rates of individuals with schizophrenia also struggling with SUD. Research by the Schizophrenia Bulletin indicates that “nearly half of the people struggling with schizophrenia also present with a lifetime history of” SUD. So, what causes this connection between schizophrenia and SUD?

The connection between schizophrenia and SUD could be due to vulnerabilities in brain structure. However, individuals are also at risk of using substances to cope with their schizophrenia. Especially when people are undiagnosed, they may self-medicate because they feel they have nowhere else to turn. More often than not, this leads to dependency, and further treatment is required. 

Seeking Treatment for Schizophrenia and SUD

So, if you or someone you love is struggling with schizophrenia and SUD, we encourage you to seek treatment immediately. Dual-diagnosis treatment can aid in symptom management by:

• Promoting valuable coping skills
• Providing an individual and their family with psychoeducation and support
• Identifying and working toward treatment goals
• Address and overcome triggers
• Promoting abstinence and preventing relapse

For more information about addiction, mental health, and treatment, consider contacting a doctor, a mental health professional, or a treatment center today. 

Individuals struggling with a mental health condition are at an increased risk of having a substance use disorder (SUD). This includes those who experience intense, complex mental health conditions, like schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, often causing individuals to lose touch with reality and experience episodes of delusions, hallucinations, and other psychotic symptoms. Because individuals frequently turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with symptoms, seeking treatment for schizophrenia and SUD is vital. Thankfully, many treatment facilities provide dual diagnosis treatment that can help people heal from SUD and co-occurring mental health conditions. To learn more or seek treatment, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 today.