CONSUMPTION PATTERN AND MOTIVATION FOR TH E USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES IN SCHIZOPHRENICS

In particular studies conducted in the U.S. display a tendency for sch izophrenics to combine hallucinogens and amphetamines, whereas other s tudies report on a combination of psychotropic substances with a simil ar range of action. Influencing negative symptoms is reported to be th e motivation for consumption. A total of 222 patients with a schizophr enic disorder (FZ) and addiction (F1) were examined. The main substanc e was alcohol (F10.1 or F10.2; 52.2%), followed by cannabis (F12; 25%) , opiates (F11;4.1%), sedatives or hypnotics (F13; 2.7%), and cocaine (F16; 0.5%). A multiple drug use (F19) is reported by 14% of them. The most frequent combination was alcohol and cannabis, whereas hallucino gens and amphetamines were only rarely combined. Actual multiple consu mption was reported by 55% of the patients, while lifetime multiple co nsumption applied to 72%. The motivation seems to be an unspecified se dation of unpleasant affective symptoms of schizophrenia. The most fre quently seen combinations do not correlate with the reports published in the literature. The great variations in motivation seem to mainly r eflect the importance of the availability of the substance.