Alcohol Use and Abuse in Schizophrenia

The authors examined patterns of alcohol use among 115 DSM-III schizophrenics discharged from the state hospital and participating in an urban aftercare program. According to ratings by mobile outreach clinicians, 45% of the patients used alcohol, and 22% were clearly abusing alcohol. Alcohol use was associated with younger age, male sex, street drug use, medication noncompliance, lack of psychosocial supports, increased symptomatology, chronic medical problems, and a higher rate of rehospitalization. Even minimal drinking, not considered alcohol abuse by clinicians, predicted rehospitalization during 1-year prospective follow-up.