Lifetime history of substance misuse in first-episode psychosis: prevalence and its influence on psychopathology and onset of psychotic symptoms.
BACKGROUND
Substance misuse (SM) (drug/alcohol dependence or abuse) in psychotic illness is an increasingly recognized problem. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and examine the influence of SM on age at onset of psychosis and psychopathology among patients with first-episode psychosis.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-one consecutive patients with first-episode psychosis were assessed. SM, age of onset of psychosis and psychopathology were determined using valid instruments.


RESULTS
Seventy-seven (46%) patients had a lifetime history of SM and were predominately males, had more positive symptoms, and in the majority of cases (84%), started misusing substances before the onset of psychosis (SM-BP). There was no difference in age of onset between patients with SM-BP and the rest of the sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Lifetime history of SM is common and may influence psychopathology, but does not appear to influence or bring forward the age at onset of psychotic symptoms.
Department of Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. mkamali2@yahoo.co.uk
Moayyad
M
Kamali
Orfhlaith
O
McTigue
Peter
P
Whitty
Maurice
M
Gervin
Mary
M
Clarke
Stephen
S
Browne
Conall
C
Larkin
Eadbhard
E
O'Callaghan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry) / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*