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Understanding drug-induced schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental condition that affects millions of people globally. Drug-induced schizophrenia goes away at least one third to 60 percent of cases.
Schizophrenia is a mental condition that affects millions of people globally. No one really knows what causes it. However, research suggests that some factors combined can make a person more likely to develop schizophrenia. These include physical, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.
Although some people are prone to schizophrenia, an emotional or traumatic life event can also trigger a psychotic episode. Most cases of schizophrenia can be traced back to the family. However, there’s no single gene thought to be responsible.
The lingering question of what causes this condition has led to the investigation of the role played by drugs. Drugs do not seem to directly cause schizophrenia. Even so, there are studies that show drug misuse can increase a person’s risk of developing schizophrenia.
Also, schizophrenia is related to a change in the level of dopamine and serotonin. As such, drugs that affect the production levels of these two hormones can also influence mental health.
The interaction between mental illness and substance use disorder is a real issue that doctors often call dual diagnosis. Surprisingly, about half of all people diagnosed with schizophrenia also have problems with substance abuse and dependence.
In fact, the rate of nicotine use among people with schizophrenia is alarming, currently standing at 80%.
While scientists continue to work out how drugs and schizophrenia are related, they agree that both are independent problems that interact with each other. They should also be addressed and treated independently.
Why people with schizophrenia use drugs
Like everyone else, people with schizophrenia use drugs for the same old reasons: to get high, feel different, or relax and have fun. Some want to cope with the symptoms. Whatever the reason, however, drug use can complicate the treatment of a person with schizophrenia. That’s why it’s important to obtain treatment at the hospital.
Can drug-induced schizophrenia go away?
According to the World Health Organization, at least a third of all people with schizophrenia get completely cured.
A study was conducted in China among patients with psychotic symptoms brought about by drug abuse. In about 60% of cases, the symptoms resolved within one month of stopping drug use. It may take up to six months for other people.
Those whose symptoms persisted for long periods either had a family history of mental illness or prolonged drug use from an early age. Most people who develop chronic mental illness after using drugs have a predisposition to the illness.
Is there a cure for drug-induced schizophrenia?
If schizophrenia is totally influenced by drug use, the obvious cure is to stop abusing any substance. However, that is easier said than done. Dependence and addiction can make it difficult to stop. Moreover, a person may have to deal with unavoidable and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms after long-term abuse.
Symptoms of drug-induced schizophrenia
There’s no one way to know if someone’s illness is related to abusing drugs. Symptoms are almost the same as a pure case of schizophrenia. Some of them include:
Persecution delusions. Schizophrenia can make you believe that someone is spying on you with ill intention.
Jealousy delusions, often involving a partner. You may believe they are unfaithful even without the evidence to prove it.
Grandiose delusions, which cause you to experience an exaggerated sense of power, such as magical abilities.
Auditory hallucinations. You may hear voices. Some people report hearing a voice that narrates their movements, actions, or two voices that argue with each other.
Visual hallucinations. These cause you to see a different reality from that of others. You may notice shadows, objects, or people that aren’t really there.
You may also experience other symptoms such as emotional changes, difficulty expressing your feelings, violent or erratic behavior.
Drugs that can cause schizophrenia
There are certain drugs that can trigger schizophrenic episodes. For example, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, and psychedelic drugs such as LSD. The risk is especially high in people who are already at risk of developing the condition. According to several studies, using amphetamines or cocaine can lead to psychosis. These drugs can also cause a relapse in people who are already recovering from an earlier episode. There are also people who will experience worsening of their schizophrenia symptoms when they are taking such drugs.
Methamphetamine
The prolonged use of methamphetamine not only causes severe psychiatric symptoms. It also reduces the brain’s dopamine transporter density to a great extent. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that the brain makes and the nervous system uses to send messages between nerve cells. There is a link between mental health problems and changes in dopamine levels in the brain. The effect of prolonged methamphetamine use on dopamine may be long-lasting, even after you stop using the drug.
Cannabis
There is overwhelming evidence that teenagers and young adults who use cannabis (marijuana) regularly are more likely to develop schizophrenia later when they become adults. Using cannabis for a long period of time can also bring about the symptoms of psychosis such as paranoia. The reason is that in high doses, THC, which is the compound that produces the high in cannabis, can also cause temporary schizophrenia-like psychotic symptoms. These include paranoia, delusions, anxiety, and hallucinations.
Treating drug-induced schizophrenia
If your doctor finds that you have drug-induced schizophrenia, it will often be part of a dual diagnosis. They will, therefore, need to treat these as separate issues for effective recovery or to reduce your symptoms. You may have to undergo a medically assisted withdrawal detoxification program. This will help you achieve medical stability and manage drug withdrawal symptoms. Then your doctor will begin an individual treatment plan for any underlying mental health issues.
Your doctor may also recommend an approach that combines both mental health and addiction services in one program.
The program may include:
- Engaging the person with symptoms, who may be reluctant, to come forward for help, support, and treatment
- Using therapy that features motivation and interviews to work towards goals that the person has defined for themselves
- Incorporating social work and housing support to help eliminate symptoms of both schizophrenia and drug use
- Communicating hope for recovery and focusing on improving that person’s quality of life
There is evidence that when people receive this kind of combined treatment for schizophrenia and substance abuse, they are more likely to remain engaged in treatment. Also, their symptoms can improve significantly as they continue to recover.