Prevalência do consumo de substâncias lícitas e ilícitas em pacientes esquizofrênicos em um hospital psiquiátrico do norte do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that impairs cognition, behavior, and social functioning. The use of psychoactive substances is common among these patients and can negatively impact treatment outcomes and prognosis.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, amphetamine, and cannabis use among patients with schizophrenia hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital in northern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to August 2023, involving 185 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (ICD-10 F20). The sample was selected by convenience and included individuals of both sexes, aged 18 years or older. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, escape during hospitalization, and death during the study period. The variables analyzed included sociodemographic data, type of hospitalization, time since diagnosis, number of hospitalizations, use of substances, and use of antipsychotics. Data were obtained from electronic medical records and analyzed using descriptive statistics with PSPP software.Results: he prevalence of tobacco use was 50.6%, alcohol use 36.6%, and illicit drug use 28.9%, with cannabis (23%), cocaine (17.2%), and crack (14.8%) being the most frequently reported. Substance users were more often diagnosed within the last 10 years, had more than three hospitalizations, and higher rates of suicide attempts. The use of atypical or combined antipsychotics was more common among these patients.Conclusion: The results indicate a high prevalence of substance use among hospitalized patients with schizophrenia, reinforcing the need for integrated care strategies for this vulnerable population.