Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder: a comparative study on the clinical characteristics of patients with alcohol dependence and schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder (AIPD) is a rare complication of excessive alcohol use for which limited comparative studies are available. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate demographic and psychopathological characteristics in patients with AIPD, schizophrenia, and uncomplicated alcohol dependence. We postulated that AIPD is a discrete clinical entity that can be differentiated from schizophrenia and uncomplicated alcohol dependence by means of standardized clinical assessments.

METHOD: Twenty-eight patients with AIPD, 21 with schizophrenia and 20 with uncomplicated alcohol dependence were assessed using psychiatric rating scales, including the positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

RESULTS: Patients with AIPD had a significantly lower educational level, later onset of psychosis, higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, fewer negative and disorganized symptoms, better insight and judgment, and less functional impairment compared with patients with schizophrenia.

CONCLUSION: The study provides further supportive evidence that AIPD can be clinically distinguished from schizophrenia.