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Cerebrovascular disease

How is cerebrovascular disease related to schizophrenia?

People with schizophrenia may show increased rates of co-occurring conditions when compared to general population rates. Cerebrovascular disease includes strokes, transient ischemic attacks, aneurysms, and vascular malformations. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted due to a blocked artery (ischaemic stroke) or when an artery bursts (haemorrhagic stroke). A transient ischemic attack is similar to a stroke, but less severe, and an aneurysm involves an enlarged artery caused by weakness in the arterial wall. These can all cause brain damage if cells do not get enough of the oxygen and nutrients that are carried by the blood to the brain.

What is the evidence for comorbid cerebrovascular disease?

Moderate quality evidence suggests a small increase in the rate of cerebrovascular disease, including stroke and death by stroke, in people with schizophrenia, with data adjusted for potential confounding factors that may have accounted for the association.

June 2020

Last updated at: 12:26 am, 5th October 2021
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