Schizophrenia is a complex and heterogeneous disease. Several psychiatric conditions including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, aggressive and violent behavior and substance abuse are frequently associated with schizophrenia. Non-psychiatric comorbid conditions are also common in this population.

To evaluate the presence of non-psychiartic comorbid condtions in patients with schizophrenia.

This study looked at the medication history for non-psychiatric comorbid condtions in patients with schizophrenia.

Four residential institutions for patients with schizophrenia were chosen for the study. There were a total of 145 patients with schizophrenia. The first had 48 patients, males 30 and females 18, the second had 42 patients; 29 males 13 females, the third had 27 patients; 13 males and 14 females and the fourth had 28 patients; 15 males and 13 females. Medications were reviewed for the following comorbid conditions: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma/COPD, hypercholesterolemia, arthritis, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis and miscellaneous.

Of the 145 institutionalized schizophrenia patients(87 males (60%) and 58 females (40%); aged 28 to 82 years), comorbid conditions being treated were as follows: hypertension: 82(56%); diabetes mellitus:39(27%); lung disease 37(26%); hypercholesterolemia 50(35%); arthritis 28(19%), hypothyroidism 11(6%), osteoporosis 7(5%) and others 50(35%). There were only 24(17%) patients who had no treatment for any comorbid conditions.

The vast majority (83%) of institutionalized patients with schizophrenia are on medications for multiple nonpsychiatric comorbid conditions. Psychiatrists need to be cognizant of this clinical complexity and the resultant polypharmacy in this population. Continuing care should be coordinated with a general medical practitioner.