title: Can exploring natural recovery from substance misuse in psychosis assist with treatment? A review of current research.
abstract: Substance misuse in people with psychosis presents significant problems, but trials of treatments to address it show little sustained advantage over control conditions. An examination of mechanisms underpinning unassisted improvements may assist in the refinement of comorbidity treatments. This study reviewed existing research on natural recovery from substance misuse in people with psychosis. To address this issue, a systematic search identified only 7 articles that fulfilled the criteria. Their results suggest that people with psychosis report similar reasons to change as do non-psychotic groups, although they did not clarify whether the relative frequencies or priority orders were the same. Differences involved issues relating to the disorder and the functional problems faced by this group: receipt of treatment for mental health difficulties, worsening of mental health difficulties, and homelessness. The current research on reasons for change in people with psychosis is sparse and has significant limitations, and as yet it offers little inspiration for new treatments. A more fertile source may prove to be a detailed investigation of successful substance control strategies that are used in self-management by this group.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Queensland Health, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Redcliffe-Caboolture Mental Health Service, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: shane.rebgetz@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rebgetz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hides
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Comorbidity; Natural recovery; Psychosis; Substance use