Kamali, Moayyad and McTigue, Orfhlaith and Whitty, Peter and Gervin, Maurice and Clarke, Mary and Browne, Stephen and Larkin, Conall and O'Callaghan, Eadbhard (2009) Lifetime history of substance misuse in first-episode psychosis: Prevalence and its influence on psychopathology and onset of psychotic symptoms. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 3, (3), pp. 198-203. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-7893.2009.00133.x.
Substance misuse (SM) (drug/alcohol dependence or abuse) in psychotic illness is an increasingly recognized problem.
The authors aimed to estimate the prevalence and examine the influence of substance misuse on age at onset of psychosis and psychopathology among patients with first-episode psychosis.
One hundred seventy-one consecutive patients with first-episode psychosis were assessed. Substance misuse, age of onset of psychosis and psychopathology were determined using valid instruments.
Results: Seventy-seven (46%) patients had a lifetime history of substance misuse 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.
Conclusion: Lifetime history of substance misuse is common and may influence psychopathology, but does not appear to influence or bring forward the age at onset of psychotic symptoms.
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder (addiction) > Drug use disorder
G Health and disease > Behavioural and mental health disorder (Psychosis / mood)
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland
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