Most People With Schizophrenia Aren't Getting Treated

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Only 1 in every 4 U.S.

adults struggling with schizophrenia receive "minimally adequate treatment," new data shows. Many of these patients also struggle with other mental health issues, such as substance abuse or depression, and they are further challenged by social and economic hardship, according to the new report. The data comes from the U.

S. Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevalence Study, which surveyed almost 4,800 adults aged 18 to 65 between 2020 and 2022. The study is sponsored by the U.

S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA). A total of 114 of those surveyed had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, according to researchers led by Natalie Bareis .

She's an assistant professor of clinical behavioral medicine at Columbia University in New York City. Bareis' team found that, besides being diagnosed with schizophrenia, more than half (52%) of these patients also had depression , while 17% had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Suicidal thoughts ad attempts were much more common among these patients, as well.

Nearly a quarter (23%) also had alcohol use disorder and 20% also used cannabis. Health care coverage was available to nearly all of the 114 patients with schizophrenia, and 70% had received some form of mental health treatment over the prior year. However, adequate levels of treatment were rare.

For example, just 30% of patients were taking an antipsychotic medication at the tim.