Schizophrenia
“the humanity, decency, and respect for human rights of any
society can be measured by the way it treats its most afflicted and
unfortunate patients, the schizophrenics. A humane society treats
these patients in hospitals, or asylums, or good shelters with
decent food, proper care, respect, dignity, and privacy – and it
does so until they are well enough to look after themselves in the
community. A less humane society houses them in prisons,
rundown hostels, decrepit hotels, nursing homes, and on the
streets – in doorways, cardboard boxes, parks, and city sidewalk
grates.”
Schizophrenia
• A psychotic disorder characterized by disturbances in thought,
emotion, and behavior including:
– disordered thinking
– Problems with attention and perception
– Flat or inappropriate affect
– Bizarre disturbances in motor activity
– Social withdrawal
Prevalence & Other Stats
• General population - 0.2% to 2%
• Varies across geographical regions – Asian populations
having lowest rates (Goldner et al., 2002)
• Significantly higher in males than females
• male: female ratio = 1.4% (McGrath, 2006)
• Onset – late adolescence or early adulthood
• Approx. 10% commit suicide (Gov’t of Canada, 2006)
• 234, 305 Canadians in 2004
• 374 deaths attributed to schizophrenia (2004)
, Schizophrenia & Comorbidity
• Plays a role in development, severity, and course of
disorder
• MacMillan, Enns, Cox, & Sareen, 2009 -
Comorbidity of Axis I and Axis II disorders in a
community-based sample of adults with
schizophrenia (the US National Epidemiologic
Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions)
• Comorbid Axis I:
• Substance Use, Mood & Anxiety Disorders
• Comorbid Axis II:
• Avoidant
• Paranoid
Substance Abuse &
Schizophrenia
• Swartz et al (2006) reported that 37% of a
sample of people with schizophrenia showed
current evidence of substance use disorders
• Was especially common in men
• Childhood conduct disorder problems are risk
factor for substance use disorders in
schizophrenia
“the humanity, decency, and respect for human rights of any
society can be measured by the way it treats its most afflicted and
unfortunate patients, the schizophrenics. A humane society treats
these patients in hospitals, or asylums, or good shelters with
decent food, proper care, respect, dignity, and privacy – and it
does so until they are well enough to look after themselves in the
community. A less humane society houses them in prisons,
rundown hostels, decrepit hotels, nursing homes, and on the
streets – in doorways, cardboard boxes, parks, and city sidewalk
grates.”
Schizophrenia
• A psychotic disorder characterized by disturbances in thought,
emotion, and behavior including:
– disordered thinking
– Problems with attention and perception
– Flat or inappropriate affect
– Bizarre disturbances in motor activity
– Social withdrawal
Prevalence & Other Stats
• General population - 0.2% to 2%
• Varies across geographical regions – Asian populations
having lowest rates (Goldner et al., 2002)
• Significantly higher in males than females
• male: female ratio = 1.4% (McGrath, 2006)
• Onset – late adolescence or early adulthood
• Approx. 10% commit suicide (Gov’t of Canada, 2006)
• 234, 305 Canadians in 2004
• 374 deaths attributed to schizophrenia (2004)
, Schizophrenia & Comorbidity
• Plays a role in development, severity, and course of
disorder
• MacMillan, Enns, Cox, & Sareen, 2009 -
Comorbidity of Axis I and Axis II disorders in a
community-based sample of adults with
schizophrenia (the US National Epidemiologic
Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions)
• Comorbid Axis I:
• Substance Use, Mood & Anxiety Disorders
• Comorbid Axis II:
• Avoidant
• Paranoid
Substance Abuse &
Schizophrenia
• Swartz et al (2006) reported that 37% of a
sample of people with schizophrenia showed
current evidence of substance use disorders
• Was especially common in men
• Childhood conduct disorder problems are risk
factor for substance use disorders in
schizophrenia
