Predictors of substance use reduction in an epidemiological first‐episode psychosis cohort

Abstract

Addressing SUDs and social and occupational goals in people with FEP may offer opportunities to prevent SUDs becoming more severe or entrenched. Further longitudinal research on recovery from SU and FEP is needed to disentangle directions of influence and identify key targets for intervention.

A prospective study of natural recovery from cannabis use in early psychosis

“…While almost 50% of the sample were polysubstance users (defined as cannabis plus other substances) in the 6 weeks prior to admission, there was no significant difference in the proportion of polysubstance users and cannabis users who achieved abstinence from cannabis use or any substance use over the 6-month followup. This does not accord with our recent finding that first-episode patients with a cannabis use disorder at baseline were more likely to have reduced or ceased substance use at 18-months follow-up than were those with polysubstance use disorders 15 . However, that study relied on file audits and included reductions in consumption, whereas the current study focused on complete abstinence, and systematically measured substance use at least fortnightly over 6 months follow-up.…”

“…A recent study conducted by the investigators, found that the presence of a cannabis use disorder only (i.e. without other concurrent substance misuse) and higher levels of premorbid social and occupational functioning were significant predictors of later cessation or reduction of substance use in a treated cohort of first episode patients with psychosis and substance use disorder 15 . However, no distinction between those who ceased and those who reduced their use was made.…”

Cannabis use and transition to psychosis in people at ultra-high risk

“…The particularly low rates of transition associated with infrequent use (2.8%), cessation of use (9.4%) and later onset of use (5.6%), however, were unexpectedly low compared with UHR participants who had never used cannabis (18.8%). It is possible that, in the UHR group, these patterns of use might represent proxy markers for some potentially protective characteristics, such as good socio-occupational function (Rebgetz et al 2013; Valmaggia et al 2013).…”

Symptomatic and functional outcomes of substance use disorder persistence 2 years after admission to a first-episode psychosis program

“…Although some studies have shown preliminary associations with male gender, young age, younger age at psychosis onset, SUD severity, poly-SUD, psychotic and depressive symptoms as well as poor adherence (Faridi et al, 2012;Foti et al, 2010;González-Pinto et al, 2011;Rebgetz et al, 2014;Turkington et al, 2009), the results need to confirmed and expanded.…”