Question

Compare and contrast substance abuse diagnoses with schizophrenia/psychosis.

Answer 1

Schizophrenia	Substance abuse
Schizophrenia is characterized by following main symptoms: Delusions (thought broadcasting, insertion, withdrawal, etc.) Hallucinations (auditory, somatic being the most common) Physical (motor) agitation Loss or reduction of feelings of pleasure (dysphoria) Impaired decision making and concentration Difficulty in comprehending information	Substance abuse is characterized by following main symptoms: Hallucinations (drug induced) Paranoia or psychosis (drug induced) Uncoordinated motor ability Increased feeling of pleasure (Euphoria) Impaired memory, decision making, critical thinking, etc. Increase in risky behavior Heightened or altered senses
In schizophrenia, the individual's symptoms will go through the cycle of peaking and subsiding all throughout their life. Individuals with schizophrenia have to go through lifetime treatment as there is no definitive cure for this disorder.	The duration of symptoms of substance abuse vary for each individual. The symptoms are dependent on the time frame of substance abuse. The symptoms subside once the dependence on substance goes away.
Schizophrenia is a disorder with no documented cure. For some individuals it may subside and get remission, but for most it is a lifelong disorder. The typical treatments include us of anti-psychotic drugs and therapy to help cope with situation. The therapy is mostly centered on situation management, and on family and caretakers.	There is no cure for substance abuse symptoms as it has never been seen as a disorder. It is treated as dependence on substance and therapies center on rehabilitation, reduction of dependence on substance as well as finding a healthy alternative to substance abuse. Medication is prescribed only when the dependence is seen as due to underlying mental disorder like anxiety, mood disorder, etc.
Some of the common differential diagnosis of Schizophrenia include substance related psychosis (alcohol or cocaine), Major depressive disorder, Bipolar Affective disorder, Schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, and Schizophreniform disorder.	Some of the common differential diagnosis of Substance-induced psychosis include Schizophrenia, Paranoia, Major depressive disorder, Bipolar disorder, Schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, mania (bipolar with maniac episode), Bipolar with hypomania.