Demographic and clinical correlates of comorbid substance use disorders in psychosis: multivariate analyses from an epidemiological sample.
BACKGROUND
While there has been substantial research examining the correlates of comorbid substance abuse in psychotic disorders, it has been difficult to tease apart the relative importance of individual variables. Multivariate analyses are required, in which the relative contributions of risk factors to specific forms of substance misuse are examined, while taking into account the effects of other important correlates.


METHODS
This study used multivariate correlates of several forms of comorbid substance misuse in a large epidemiological sample of 852 Australians with DSM-III-R-diagnosed psychoses.


RESULTS
Multiple substance use was common and equally prevalent in nonaffective and affective psychoses. The most consistent correlate across the substance use disorders was male sex. Younger age groups were more likely to report the use of illegal drugs, while alcohol misuse was not associated with age. Side effects secondary to medication were associated with the misuse of cannabis and multiple substances, but not alcohol. Lower educational attainment was associated with cannabis misuse but not other forms of substance abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
The profile of substance misuse in psychosis shows clinical and demographic gradients that can inform treatment and preventive research.
Kavanagh
David J
DJ
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Waghorn
Geoffrey
G
Jenner
Linda
L
Chant
David C
DC
Carr
Vaughan
V
Evans
Mandy
M
Hemnan
Helen
H
Jablensky
Assen
A
McGrath
John J
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*