Correlation of psychotic disorders with alcohol and other psychoactive substances abuse

INTRODUCTION. Drug abuse can lead to substance-induced psychosis. Psychotic symptoms can, as well, appear as part of the abstinence syndrome, commonly in alcohol addiction. AIMS. Determining the prevalence of alcohol and other substance abuse by patients hospitalized for psychotic disorders; Determining whether there are differences in sociodemographic, psychiatric and somatoneurological parameters between those who used alcohol and drugs and those who did not. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The research was conducted as a retrospective study in which 181 patients hospitalized at the male ward for psychotic disorders of the Clinic for Psychiatry in Novi Sad were included. Medical documentation and clinical data grouped into 16 variables were analyzed. The results are presented using pictures, tables and graphs. The JMP 9 program was used for statistical data analysis, with t-test and ch2 test. Significance level p=0.05. RESULTS. Alcohol was consumed by 41% of patients and drugs by as many as 32% of respondents. Of the drugs, the most prevalent was misuse of THC (13%), followed by polytoxicomania abuse (10%), stimulants (7%) and opioids (2%), while only one respondent was recorded as having misused hallucinogens. Abuse of THC, stimulants and polydrug abuse are associated with younger age. The most common somatoneurological comorbidity was hypertension. Compliance with therapy is statistically significantly worse in the group of alcoholics. CONCLUSION. The use of alcohol and drugs is highly prevalent in the population of male patients. Comorbid abuse of these substances adversely affects the onset, course and treatment of psychosis.