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Schizophrenia could be responsible for over 10% of all suicides, a new study finds.
Investigating the 5650 suicides committed between 2008 and 2012 in Ontario, Canada, a recent study established that 12% involved individuals with schizhoprenia spectrum disorders (SSD). The prevalence rate of SSD is estimated at 1% of the general population. Compared to other cases, these victims were younger, poorer, and utilized more health services (even compared to a subpopulaion with severe mental illness.) Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric condition characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech and behavior; and this study highlight the potentially deadly nature of this disorder. Source: Kurdyak et alia (2018) Half of patients treated with dopamine replacement therapy at risk of developing impulse-control disorders The symptoms of Parkinson’s (tremors, impaired speech, etc.) come from the fact that the disease affects the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with movement. For that reason, patients are often treated with medications boosting dopamine activity. However, dopamine also plays a key role in reward and motivation. As a consequence, people taking dopamine agonists are at risk of developing impulse-control disorders (ICD) such as compulsive gambling, shopping, eating, etc. The risk could even be as high as 50%, a new study finds. Studying a multicenter cohort of 400+ patients with Parkison’s over the course of five years, Corvol et alia (2018) found that: -51.5% developed ICD -Daily dose and duration of treatment were both predictors of ICD -ICD symptoms disappeared after discontinuation of the treatment (50% after a year for a subgroup of 30 patients) Source: Corvol et alia (2018) |
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