Can drugs cause schizophrenia
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Can Drugs Cause Schizophrenia?
Introduction to Schizophrenia and Drug Influence
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by symptoms such as psychosis, social withdrawal, and cognitive impairment. It has a complex etiology involving genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors 12. The role of drugs in the onset and progression of schizophrenia has been a subject of extensive research, with various studies exploring the impact of psychoactive substances on this mental illness.
Genetic Basis and Drug-Induced Psychosis
Schizophrenia is primarily considered a genetic disorder, with a significant heritable component 13. However, environmental factors, including drug use, can trigger schizophrenia-like symptoms. Certain drugs, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), amphetamines, cannabis, and phencyclidine (PCP), have been shown to induce psychosis that mimics schizophrenia 347. These drug-induced psychoses share similar symptoms with schizophrenia, making it challenging to distinguish between the two conditions 4.
Substance Abuse and Schizophrenia Onset
High comorbidity rates between schizophrenia and substance use disorders have been consistently observed, particularly with the abuse of cannabis and psychostimulants 26. Studies indicate that drug abuse can precede the onset of schizophrenia symptoms in a significant number of cases, suggesting a potential causal relationship 6. Chronic drug abuse is associated with structural brain changes, such as gray matter loss, which may exacerbate the severity of schizophrenia 2.
Neuroimaging and Functional Brain Alterations
Neuroimaging studies have provided insights into the effects of drug abuse on brain function in schizophrenic patients. Regular drug use in individuals with schizophrenia is linked to increased neurofunctional activity in limbic and prefrontal brain regions, as well as decreased neural activity in frontal and temporal areas during the resting state 2. These findings highlight the significant impact of substance abuse on the course of schizophrenia, contributing to more severe brain volume loss and functional impairments 2.
Neuropharmacological Theories and Drug Models
Research into the effects of psychoactive substances has contributed to the development of major neuropharmacological theories of schizophrenia. For instance, the serotonergic model was initiated by studies on LSD, the dopamine hypothesis by amphetamines, and the glutamatergic hypothesis by PCP and ketamine 7. These drug models mimic different aspects of schizophrenia, providing valuable insights into the pathogenesis of the illness 7.
Conclusion
While schizophrenia has a strong genetic basis, the role of drugs in inducing schizophrenia-like psychosis cannot be overlooked. Substance abuse, particularly of psychoactive drugs, can trigger and exacerbate symptoms of schizophrenia, leading to more severe brain alterations and functional impairments. Understanding the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as drug use, is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies for schizophrenia.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Effects of Psychoactive Substances in Schizophrenia – Findings of Structural and Functional Neuroimaging
Regular drug use is a significant risk factor for severe loss of brain volume in schizophrenia patients.
Literature ReviewDrug-Induced Psychosis: How to Avoid Star Gazing in Schizophrenia Research by Looking at More Obvious Sources of Light
Drug-induced psychosis is a significant environmental factor in schizophrenia, suggesting that liability to psychosis is distributed in the general population similarly to medical disorders like hypertension and diabetes.
Highly CitedDrug Abuse and Psychosis: New Insights into Drug-induced Psychosis
Drug-induced psychosis (DIP) is acquired, while schizophrenia is heritable, and this review highlights the need for a genetic approach to distinguish between the two conditions.
Rigorous JournalSchizophrenia: a systematic review of the disease state, current therapeutics and their molecular mechanisms of action.
Schizophrenia treatment relies on the dopamine and serotonin hypotheses, with current drugs and promising candidates showing promising results in pre and early clinical trials.
Systematic ReviewSubstance abuse and the onset of schizophrenia
First-episode schizophrenia is significantly associated with substance abuse, but a unidirectional causality or specific psychotic disorder in comorbid cases is not supported.
Observational StudyHighly CitedWhat can we learn about schizophrenia from studying the human model, drug‐induced psychosis?
Drug-induced psychoses provide valuable insights into schizophrenia, as they mimic different aspects of the illness and provide insights into the pathogenesis of the illness.
Current Concepts and Treatments of Schizophrenia
Current antipsychotics are limited in effectiveness and have severe side effects, but novel concepts in schizophrenia treatment involve novel mechanisms of GPCR signaling.
Highly CitedSchizophrenia and Substance Abuse
Schizophrenics who abuse drugs or alcohol are at an increased risk of violent behavior.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedSchizophrenia Synaptic Pathology and Antipsychotic Treatment in the Framework of Oxidative and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Translational Highlights for the Clinics and Treatment
Antipsychotic treatment significantly alters mitochondrial proteins, affecting cognitive and psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia patients.
Systematic Review