Schizophrenia is a severe and disabling
psychiatric disorder characterized
by persistent delusions,
hallucinations, disorganized speech,
disorganized behavior, and negative
symptoms such as the absence of emotional
expression or a lack of motivation
or initiative (American Psychiatric
Association [APA] 1994). Alcohol use
disorder1 (AUD) commonly co-occurs
with schizophrenia. This article reviews
several aspects of AUD among people
with schizophrenia, including the prevalence
of this co-occurrence, biological and
psychosocial factors that contribute to
this relationship, correlated problems
dually diagnosed people experience, the
effects of AUD on the course and outcome
of schizophrenia, treatment issues,
and public policy implications. People
with schizophrenia and AUD frequently
abuse other substances as well. Current
understanding of contributing factors,
correlated problems, effect on course of
illness, and treatment implications is
similar for different substances of abuse.