What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a serious, long-term mental illness that impacts a person’s thinking, perception, feelings, and behaviors.[1] Schizophrenia is also one of the more complex and misunderstood mental disorders. Patients with schizophrenia may experience impairments to their ability to think, interpret their surroundings, and socially interact.
Current research indicates that schizophrenia is thought to involve imbalances in neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine and glutamate, as well as structural differences in brain function that are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.[2]
Symptoms of schizophrenia are generally divided into three main categories:
- Positive symptoms: Experiences that are added to a person’s baseline. Examples of positive symptoms are hallucinations (most commonly hearing voices), bizarre behaviors, delusions (firmly held false beliefs), and disorganized or abnormal behavior.
- Negative symptoms: Reductions in normal functioning, including diminished emotional expression, reduced motivation, social withdrawal, decreased speech, and difficulty experiencing pleasure.
- Cognitive symptoms: Impairments in memory, attention, and executive functioning that affect the ability to process information and carry out daily tasks.
The onset of schizophrenia generally occurs in early adulthood; late teens to early twenties for men and mid-twenties to early thirties for women.[3] During this time period, the person will need psychiatric support and treatment.
Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse: The Connection
Numerous studies have shown the connection between patients with schizophrenia and substance abuse. It is estimated that approximately 50% of people with schizophrenia will develop a substance use disorder during their lifetime, which is a rate far exceeding that of the general population.[4]
There are several interrelated factors that explain why this happens:
- Self-medication: Many patients with schizophrenia use substances as a means to address the emotional pain caused by the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as to help minimize their anxiety or reduce the auditory hallucinations they experience.
- Shared neurobiological vulnerability: Both schizophrenia and addiction are believed to be caused by disturbances to the functioning of the dopamine neurotransmitter system. Evidence shows that common neurobiological mechanisms that place a person at risk for developing schizophrenia also place that same person at risk for developing a substance abuse disorder.[5]
- Social environment: Many patients with schizophrenia live in isolation, in unstable housing, or around regular drug use, which increases the likelihood of developing substance use disorders due to exposure.
- Stimulant and cannabis use: The use of stimulants and cannabis, particularly marijuana with an exceptionally high concentration of THC, negatively affects patients with schizophrenia. These substances will increase the probability of patients developing or exacerbating any psychotic symptoms.[6]
The Value of Continuous Psychiatric Stability
Achieving psychiatric stability is vital for long-term recovery from schizophrenia, as individuals can experience fluctuation of symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thinking based on the amount of consistency or disruption in their treatment. When substance use is present, these fluctuations can become more severe and unpredictable.
Through continual monitoring, medication management, and providing therapeutic support, a structured treatment environment will ultimately assist in stabilizing symptoms. In addition to working closely with psychiatric professionals to adjust medications, the structure of a stable treatment environment can help individuals develop routines that support adequate sleep, nutrition, and functioning. These foundational elements will contribute greatly to decreased severity of symptoms and improved overall quality of life.
While achieving stability may not occur immediately, the right level of care and continual support will yield meaningful results for an individual’s ability to function and participate in day-to-day activities.
Improving Daily Functioning and Independence
Schizophrenia has a significant impact on daily activities, including communication, organization, and the ability to manage responsibilities. When combined with substance use, these factors will further impede an individual’s ability to maintain independence and consistency in their day-to-day activities.
The primary focus of treatment is to reduce symptoms; however, treatment also includes the development of practical life skills for all individuals. Skills may include improving communication, problem-solving abilities, and developing routines to create stable daily structure. Over time, individuals can begin to feel more confident in their ability to navigate everyday situations.
Creating a supportive environment will also facilitate a successful outcome by creating encouragement and consistency throughout the recovery process. Encouragement can come from family, support groups, and continued outpatient treatment. The combination of clinical treatment and real-world support will enable individuals to develop greater independence and maintain a more stable, manageable life.
When to Get Help for Schizophrenia and Addiction
If you are helping to support someone who has schizophrenia and is using drugs, or you are trying to navigate your own schizophrenia and substance abuse, please know that there is help available and that integrated treatment makes a significant difference.
It is time to reach out for help if:
- Your psychotic symptoms are becoming worse or harder to manage due to your substance use
- Your medications are not working as well as they used to
- You feel there is a link between your substance use and the worsening of your symptoms or your return to the hospital for psychiatric care
- Your loved one has been unstable or having difficulty engaging in treatment.
- You are not sure how to help your loved one or where to turn
Reaching out for a clinical assessment is always the right first step. Our admissions team at Meridian Recovery is here to help guide you through the process with compassion and expertise.
