Illicit substance use and its correlates in first episode psychosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if substance use (particularly cannabis) is more frequent among first episode psychosis patients and associated with a more problematic clinical presentation.


METHODS
All first episode psychosis (FEP) patients presenting to secondary services were recruited from London and Nottingham, over 2 years, in the Aetiology and Ethnicity of Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses study broad framework. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were assessed using a set of standardized instruments. A schedule was created to retrospectively collate substance use data from patients, relatives and clinicians.


RESULTS
Five hundred and eleven FEP were identified. They used three to five times more substances than general population. Substance use was associated with poorer social adjustment and a more acute mode of onset. Cannabis use did not affect social adjustment, but was associated with a more acute mode of onset.


CONCLUSIONS
Cannabis has a different impact on FEP than other substances. Large epidemiological studies are needed to disentangle cannabis effect.
Mazzoncini
R
R
Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy. rodolfo.mazzoncini@univr.it <rodolfo.mazzoncini@univr.it>
Donoghue
K
K
Hart
J
J
Morgan
C
C
Doody
G A
GA
Dazzan
P
P
Jones
P B
PB
Morgan
K
K
Murray
R M
RM
Fearon
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs