Schizophrenia and Alcohol Abuse

The following factors for comorbid alcohol use disorder in schizophrenia:

• low educational achievement
• violent offending
• a family history of alcohol use disorder

Other factors that might also be risk factors for development of alcohol use disorders in schizophrenia:

• The obvious relationship between alcohol use and schizophrenia is that patients consume alcohol to relieve the positive symptoms of schizophrenia or to combat the side effects of the medication.
• Dysphoria and insomnia, as in the non-schizophrenia people, can also lead to increased alcohol consumption.
• Factors related to the illness itself such as unemployment, loneliness and poor self esteem, can also be risk factors.