To identify and compare the characteristics of symptoms and social functioning of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with substance misuse.

A total of 122 patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Inclusion criteria were: age older than 18 years; the presence of’dual’ diagnosis; the appropriate category F2 and F1 ICD-10; a history of at least 10 years of follow-psychiatric service. Depending on the preferred substance, all patients were divided into two groups: 1st group consisted of 76 patients with schizophrenia who abuse alcohol; group 2 included 46 patients with schizophrenia, polydrug abuse. Severity of psychotic symptoms at admission was evaluated on a scale of PANSS, social functioning - on a scale of PSP.

The mean age of patients in the first group was significantly higher (43.0±10.1 vs 34.4±7.4, p<0.05). Drug abuse in patients with second group started in an earlier age than the first alcohol use in patients with the first group (16.5±3.4 vs 21.8±8.1, p<0.05). The age of the first manifestations of mental disorders was significantly lower in the patients group 2 (16.5±6.5 vs 20.4±9.9, p<0.05). Also the age of the first psychotic episode in the second group was lower too (22.0±5.9 vs 26.8±10.2, p<0.05). In a study of the PANSS of the second group, the average score was higher in all subscales. The average score of positive symptoms was 26.2±7.0 against 20.6±7.2, p<0.05, and on the negative symptoms subscale 26.4±4.3 vs 24.6±2.7. Differences between groups tended to significance, p=0.061. The average score on the subscale of general symptoms scores in the second group was also higher (56.4±8.4 vs 51.7±5.5, p<0.05). The level of social functioning was higher in the first group. Average score on a scale of PSP it was 37.8±11.6 vs. 28.8±14.3, p<0.05.