Substance abuse in first episode psychosis: Baseline characteristics and clinical outcome

Abstract

Introduction

There are high rates of substance use disorders (SUD) amongst first episode psychosis (FEP). SUD have been linked to better premorbid adjustment, more severe positive and negative symptoms at presentation and poorer symptomatic and functional outcome [1]. Moreover, shorter duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been described as an important predictor of outcome in FEP [2].

Aims

With this study, we want to know which baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes differ between FEP patients with and without substance use.

Methods

One hundred and seventy-five FEP were consecutively admitted to Hospital del Mar since January 2008 to September 2014 and entered the FEP programme of the institution. The included evaluation was socio-demographic and clinical data at baseline and 1 year follow-up. We studied differences in age, gender, DUP, GAF scores at baseline and 1 year follow-up and PANSS subscale scores at base and 1 year follow-up between substance users and non-users.

Results

Cannabis: we found that users were significative younger (P < 0.01), had a higher proportion of males (P < 0.01) and a significative shorter DUP in users (P = 0.008).

Alcohol: we found that users were significative younger (P < 0.009), had a higher proportion of males (P < 0.003) and a significative lower PANNS negative scores at baseline (P = 0.01) and 1 year follow-up (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

In our sample of first episode psychosis, cannabis and alcohol use is linked with a younger age and a high proportion of males. Moreover, it seems that cannabis use could be associated with a shorter DUP.

References not available.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.