Substance misuse and early psychosis.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This paper sought to review current knowledge about the relationship between substance misuse and early psychosis. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using Medline and restricting the search to articles after 1996. Additional articles were sourced from reference lists of relevant articles. RESULTS: There is a high prevalence of substance misuse among persons with early psychosis, with cannabis and alcohol featuring prominently. Substance misuse is associated with earlier onset and possibly more positive symptoms, although apparently not with greater cognitive impairment. Cannabis appears to confer an increased likelihood of developing schizophrenia in biologically vulnerable individuals. Amphetamines also cause psychosis which may become chronic, although specific vulnerability to this effect is less well established. Many cases of so-called 'drug-induced psychosis' become diagnosed as schizophrenia in later years. Specific intervention programs report positive outcomes with regard to substance misuse and the course of psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: Substance misuse should always be assessed in this patient group, bearing in mind the potential interactive causes of psychopathology. Intervention is of value in improving outcomes.

Author information

Author/s: Tucker, Peter (P);

Affiliation: Mental Health (East), Sydney West Area Health Service, NSW, Australia. peter_tucker(-atsign-)wsahs.nsw.gov.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Meta-Analysis; Review

Journal: Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (Australas Psychiatry), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 17 (issue 4) : pp 291-4

Dates: Created 2009/07/08; Completed 2009/09/16;

PMID: 19301164, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/16/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.