Substance Use and Abuse in First-Episode Psychosis: Prevalence Before and After Early Intervention
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2007 33(6):1354-1363







Despite the high prevalence of substance abuse among first-episode psychosis (FEP) populations, few studies examine whether early intervention (EI) improves substance abuse.

To examine the prevalence and pattern of substance use and abuse among an FEP sample over 12 months.

A total of 200 participants (80.0% males; mean age 24 years) entered the study: 183 participants completed all the assessments at baseline, 131 participants completed all the assessments at 12 months.

At baseline, the findings showed similar prevalence rates between the FEP sample and the general sample for lifetime cannabis use and hazardous alcohol use but significantly different prevalence rates for lifetime hallucinogen and cocaine use .

At 12 months, the prevalence rates for drug abuse , hazardous alcohol use , and concurrent drug abuse and hazardous alcohol use were significantly lower than at baseline.

Substance use and abuse decreased significantly after 12 months of EI services; EI services may be able to detect and to reduce substance use among FEP patients before it becomes a more serious disorder.

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