Fowler, I.L. "Patterns of Current and Lifetime Substance Use in Schizophrenia." Patterns of Current and Lifetime Substance Use in Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, Jan. 2001. Web. 05 May 2015.
Article I:
The article Patterns of “Current and Lifetime Substance Use in Schizophrenia” by Ian L. Fowler discusses a research study taking patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia and assessing their substance abuse in correlation with the illness. In terms of content, it was highly directed toward three categories of reason for abuse -- the categories being: drug intoxication, dysphoria relief, social effects, and illness and medication-related effects. The study took into account a large grouping of individuals and assessed them individually asking about their drug related past, and how it was used to parallel between Schizophrenia and Psychosis. Within the article, it states complications throughout, noting how and why certain individuals could not participate in which tasks. For example, the patients had to receive a urine sample to test which drugs were already in their system and some opted out of this experiment. The article also offer a discussion on how the prevalence of the drug use in Schizophrenia patients is highly underrated, and may be the cause of a lot of complications and should be further studied. Using this in my research paper, I would quote the percentage rates of the different types of abuse, and how many patients claimed to use them as a gateway for their illness. While also noting the facts, the general content of the article shows ways to target the experiment effectively and would be of beneficial use in supporting the data.
Dixon, Lisa. "Dual Diagnosis of Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Prevalence and Impact on Outcomes." Science Direct. Elsevier, Mar. 1999. Web. 5 May 2015.
Article II:
The article “Dual diagnosis of substance abuse in schizophrenia: prevalence and impact on outcomes” By Lisa Dixon focuses on the reason why substance abuse affects patients with Schizophrenia. Looking at the Epidemiology of the subject, which basically allows the reader to understand the variation of substance abuse. Epidemiology is vital for this study because researcher specifically look at distribution and abuse in cases such as substances in Schizophrenia. What this article goes into that the previous had not is the potential of drugs that the minor percent have abused and had much greater results -- negative, of course -- than what the masses have noted. Again, noting that the drug use is because of the Schizophrenia symptoms, Dixon formulates an idea that considering the abuse is for a specific characteristic, other substances are used to counteract this. In a research paper, one could use an example of someone who has Schizophrenia and uses cannabis to reduce anxiety, however they felt they were distant from their social responsibilities so they drank to allow themselves to loosen up. It becomes a vicious cycle of self acceptance. Dixon also uses demographic as an influence in the abuse. What was interesting was noting that the geriatric community is becoming more aware of the older community understanding the lethal drug use as a way to escape their illness. It seems as though most studies focus on the vulnerable young adults that tend to have a more chances to find gateway drugs -- so to speak. The article follows up with psychosis and the symptoms and behaviors of those who use drugs as a way to cope with their side effects. Mostly we associate drug abuse with cocaine and heroin, by default, but usually not marijuana. This being said, Dixon shows that those who have recovered from psychosis have relapsed due to marijuana abuse. With this article it will benefit the focus of the study on a larger population and instances to get multiple angles on the substance use disorders.
Ballack, Allan S., MD. "Treating Substance Abuse Among Patients With Schizophrenia." : Psychiatric Services: Vol 50, No 1. PRMS, Jan. 1999. Web. 05 May 2015.
Article III:
The article “Treating Substance Abuse Among Patients With Schizophrenia” by Alan S. Bellack, Ph.D. and Carlo C. DiClemente, Ph.D. goes into the treatment of abuse within Schizophrenia patients. The two doctors cultivate that although the whole public is affected by substance abuse and that it has the same effects to a Schizophrenia patient; however, the symptoms are much more drastic due to the already standing mental capacity of the patient. The article would be beneficial to use because it illustrates that those who abuse the substances and feel they do not need to quit will be urged to lower their use, and those who do not abuse, will be urged toward abstinence against it. Not only do those being affected with psychosis need therapy to counteract their mental illness, but with substance abuse as well. If more knowledge is presented to the world about this subject, there can be more specialized doctors who can specifically work with Schizophrenia patients with substance abuse. Patients who suffer with avolition compromises any therapy because they just do not feel like quitting and have no urge to. In general, people who do drugs often want to quit but cannot because of the addiction, those with a mental illness have an altered view on it and can be much more passive with treatment. Those with higher levels of cognitive deficits cannot perform at any rate because they are harder to reach. The article takes a new treatment approach and shows how not everyone can be treated in the same manner, because not every addiction has the same qualities and characteristics.
Emmers, Van. "Temperament and Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Is There A... : The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease." LWW. Wolters Kluwer, May 1997. Web. 05 May 2015.
Article IV:
The article “Temperament and Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Is There a Relationship?” by Van Emmers looks at another study of a specific group of people and tests their abilities based on their substance abuse and Schizophrenia. The reason this article would be beneficial is because it takes a new approach on how people are assessed of their illness. A group of males with Schizophrenia were chosen to take a survey describing their abuse and the details of how it began and why. This all leads to the verification of substance use in Schizophrenia. What makes this study different is that most patients were poked and prodded at in order to evaluate, but by taking a TPQ, it changes the way the information is being perceived. Although the results may be the same, the approach was different.
Mauri, MC. "Substance Abuse in First-episode Schizophrenic Patients: A Retrospective Study." CPEMH. Bio Med Central, 23 Mar. 2006. Web. 05 May 2015.
Article V:
Looking at the article “Substance abuse in first-episode schizophrenic patients: a retrospective study” by MC Mauri, the study went into great detail of the purpose of the study, and how the results match the data. Basically, a group of scientists borrowed hundreds of Schizophrenia patients and used them for tests and counseled them on their abuse. A lot of the results have been different from the past articles. The data thoroughly looks through why the abuse is happening and at what point in treatment or foundation of Schizophrenia was there drug use/abuse. Using substances in the early years of Schizophrenia can result in worse symptoms later on, such as psychosis. A lot of the study focuses on symptom presentation. Those who have Schizophrenia and do not abuse have similar symptoms to someone who does abuse, yet they are altered due to higher dopamine levels, etc. This then becomes difficult to assess symptoms; it raises the question that if they are temporary, then how can they be measured properly?
Asher, Carolyn J. "Reasons for Illicit Drug Use in People with Schizophrenia: Qualitative Study." BMC Psychiatry. Impact Factor, Nov. 2010. Web. 05 May 2015.
Article VI:
The study conducted in the article, “Reasons for illicit drug use in people with schizophrenia: Qualitative study” by Carolyn J. Asher shows the diversity of the illness and the different types of drug use for the different demographics. The large group of people were asked to answer questions based upon the type of feelings they get when they use drugs, why they use them, and so on. A lot of the results had to do with not feeling comfortable with the psychosis drugs they were taking and feeling like they needed to compensate with drugs. It was interesting, because a lot of people dropped the study after being asked questions they felt uncomfortable with. In a research, I feel that it would be important to note why they might have dropped and use it as a way to suggest that drug abuse may be causing their timidness on the subject.
Johns, Andrew. "Psychiatric Effects of Cannabis | The British Journal of Psychiatry." Psychiatric Effects of Cannabis | The British Journal of Psychiatry. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 1 Feb. 2001. Web. 05 May 2015.
Article VII:
I feel that this article by Andrew Johns will depict a different side of this subject. While most drug abuse is a gateway from a mental illness, I think it may be important to touch on the effects of the drug itself, and maybe drive a person to their worst habits. The underrated drug, Marijuana, is seen to some as a harmless drug. For an individual who is having drug problems, it is not always a cure. Someone with Schizophrenia might see it as a way to escape from their mind. Johns looks in the effects of Cannabis to someone who is suffering from mental illness, and shows the negative aspects of the drug. It looks at mood changes, and general social deficiencies that are already amplified in comparison to a “normal” individual.
Cannon, Mary. "Causal Association between Cannabis and Psychosis: Examination of the Evidence." BJPsych. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 30 Jan. 2004. Web. 5 May 2015.
Article VIII:
The study conducted by Mary Cannon is showing the relationship between patients with Schizophrenia and Cannabis. Mary is attempting to prove wrong those who claim there is no relation between the two. In my opinion, how could there not be? Something that is stimulating a part of your brain WHILE you have a mental illness seems to be a connection. Regardless, Cannon assesses five population studies of those who use Cannabis and have a mental illness as well and concurred that there is a connection. This would benefit a research paper because it shows a contradicting idea and gives hard evidence of the contrary. Those who have existing mental illness but need the cannabis for something else, have a connection of disagreeing with each other. While also conducting the experiment, Cannon is also attempting to break the social generalization that Marijuana is fine for your health.
McCreadie, Robin. "Use of Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco by People with Schizophrenia: Case—control Study." BJPsych. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1 Oct. 2002. Web. 5 May 2015.
Article IX:
McCreadie looks into the results after someone has been treated with Schizophrenia. In this study, she conducts how people in urban areas are driven toward their drug use at a higher rate with their problems in Psychosis. With that being said, not only do people who abuse drugs are going through their illness, but also post treatment, because of their trauma. A greater population that was touched on that was not noted as much in the other articles was about cigarettes. Cigarettes are a huge factor when determining addiction because I am sure those in treatment would still go out for smoke breaks when they could. There are a multitude of aspects in the studies of drug use and Schizophrenia and this article helps to touch on the fact that if a patient already has poor health habits, post treatment they will continue that until further assessed.
Barnes, Thomas E. "Comorbid Substance Use and Age at Onset of Schizophrenia." BJPsych. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 28 Feb. 2006. Web. 5 May 2015.
Article X:
Thomas Barnes takes the study of substance abuse and looks at the root of the problem. In his study, he shows the people who have recently been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. In this group, he looks at their past history in substance abuse. With that information he patterns the data to see what types of substances were abused at what age, and potentially showing that it can be a cause of early onset Schizophrenia. Especially when teens get the illness it is hard to detect if they have had in since birth, or an incident caused it. With substance abuse, it can at least give an example of how Schizophrenia can be assessed and potentially give future generations the idea that if they abuse substances at young age, they can be at risk. This would be beneficial because it looks at the years before their diagnosed illness and how it contributed to their life atrophies.
