The impact of substance use at psychosis onset on First Episode Psychosis course: results from a 1 year follow-up study in Bologna

Remission with or without comorbid substance use disorders in early psychosis: long-term outcome in integrated care (ACCESS III study)

Introduction

Schizophrenia-Spectrum-Disorders are associated with poor long-term outcome as well as disability and often severely affect the lives of patients and their families often from symptom onset. Up to 70% of first episode psychosis (FEP) patients suffer from comorbid substance use disorders (SUD). We aimed at studying the course of illness in FEP patients within evidence-based care, with and without comorbid SUD, to examine how decreased, remitted or persistent substance use impacted rates of a combined symptomatic and functional long-term recovery compared with patients without SUD.

Methods

ACCESS III is an integrated care model for FEP or patients in the early phase of non-affective and affective psychotic disorders. Treatment trajectories of patients, who had been in ACCESS care for 1 year, with and without SUD were compared with regard to the course of illness and quality of life using Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) and recovery rates were compared using binary logistic regression. Change in substance use was coded as either persistent, decreased/remitted or no use.

Results

ACCESS III was a prospective 1-year study (N = 120) in patients aged 12-29 years. Of these, 74 (61.6%) had a comorbid SUD at admission. There were no group differences regarding the course of illness between patients with or without comorbid SUD or between patients with a substance abuse or substance dependence. The only outcome parameter that was affected by SUD was quality of life, with larger improvement found in the group without substance use (p = 0.05) compared to persistent and remitted users. Using LOCF, 44 patients (48.9%) fulfilled recovery criteria at the endpoint; recovery did not differ based on substance use status.

Discussion

SUD and especially substance dependence are common in psychotic disorders even in FEP patients. Evidence-based integrated care led to long-term improvement in patients with comorbid SUD and rate of recovery did not differ for patients with substance use.

Relationship between patterns of cannabis use and functional and symptomatic trajectories in first-episode psychosis

Cannabis use is common in first-episode psychosis (FEP) but evidence is mixed about the extent to which cannabis use predicts symptoms and functional outcomes among those who seek treatment. This study sought to characterize cannabis use patterns and examine the relationship with clinical outcomes, including interactions with early intervention services (EIS). Data were drawn from the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode-Early Treatment Program (RAISE-ETP) study including FEP individuals receiving treatment at sites randomized to provide either EIS (NAVIGATE) or community care (CC). Cannabis use was assessed monthly and symptom and functioning data were collected at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Among the 404 participants enrolled, 334 were classified into four cannabis use groups (consistent, sporadic, stopped, and never users) based on their use during the first year. Consistent and sporadic cannabis users were younger, whereas those who had stopped using were older. Sporadic users had the highest depression and the lowest functioning at baseline and improved less during treatment in negative emotions and intrapsychic foundations (e.g., motivation and sense of purpose) than non-users. However, sporadic users who received NAVIGATE improved more in overall symptoms and functioning than those who received CC. Consistent users did not tend to differ in their trajectories from non-users. Individuals with FEP who use cannabis sporadically showed less clinical improvement than non-users. However, EIS treatment reduced the negative effects of sporadic cannabis use on clinical outcomes. Those who use cannabis sporadically may have unique needs that require attention in EIS.

Frequency of health-care utilization by adults who use illicit drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

To summarize evidence on the frequency and predictors of health-care utilization among people who use illicit drugs.

DESIGN

Systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsychINFO for observational studies reporting health-care utilization published between 1 January 2000 and 3 December 2018. We conducted narrative synthesis and meta-analysis following a registered protocol (identifier: CRD42017076525).

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

People who use heroin, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, ecstasy/3,4-methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA), cannabis, hallucinogens or novel psychoactive substances; have a diagnosis of 'substance use disorder'; or use drug treatment services.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcomes were the cumulative incidence (risk) and rate of care episodes in three settings: primary care, hospital admissions (in-patient) and emergency department (ED).

FINDINGS

Ninety-two studies were included, 84% from North America and Australia. Most studies focused on people using heroin, methamphetamine or crack cocaine, or who had a diagnosis of drug dependence. We were able to conduct a meta-analysis of rates across 25 studies reporting ED episodes and 25 reporting hospital admissions, finding pooled rates of 151 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 114-201] and 41 (95% CI = 30-57) per 100 person-years, respectively; on average 4.8 and 7.1 times more often than the general population. Heterogeneity was very high and was not explained by drugs used, country of study, recruitment setting or demographic characteristics. Predictors of health-care utilization were consistent across studies and included unstable housing, drug injection and mental health problems. Opioid substitution therapy was consistently associated with reduced ED presentation and hospital admission. There was minimal research on health-care utilization by people using ecstasy/MDMA, powder cocaine, hallucinogens or novel psychoactive substances.

CONCLUSIONS

People who use illicit drugs are admitted to emergency department or hospital several times more often than the general population.

The role of substance use and adult sexual assault severity in the course of schizophrenia: An epidemiological catchment study of sexual assault victims

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma increases the risk of schizophrenia, yet the role of adult sexual assault in the course of schizophrenia is unknown. This study aims to examine the associations between substance use and sexual assault severity characteristics with the course of schizophrenia among adult sexual assault victims using an epidemiologic study design.

METHODS

Sexual assault data on all individuals received from 2000 to 2010 (N = 2147) at the Center for Care of Sexual Assault Victims at Wolfson Medical Center, the largest medical center for sexual assault victims in the country, were merged with the Israel National Psychiatric Case Registry, that consisted of lifetime psychiatric hospitalizations of schizophrenia (birth to 6 years post-assault). The associations between substance use and adult sexual assault severity characteristics with hospitalizations were quantified using recurrent events Cox modeling.

RESULTS

Schizophrenia with sexual assault survivors occurred in 117 persons. Cox modeling showed that recurrent psychiatric hospitalizations were associated with younger age, sexual assault at older age, previous diagnosis of psychosis, and drug use shortly before or during the assault. Other assault characteristics (number of assailants, means of subdual, penetration type, perpetrator violence, physical injury of the victim) and immediacy of seeking help had a null association with the course of psychiatric hospitalization. These results replicated in two sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Substance use among victims of sexual assault was associated with an exacerbated course of schizophrenia, pointing to a possibly modifiable risk factor that should be targeted in prevention, assessment, treatment formulation and implementation.

Mortality Rates and Trends Among Bologna Community Mental Health Service Users: A 13-Year Cohort Study

The present study aimed to determine mortality rates and trends among community mental health service users in Bologna (Italy) between 2001 and 2013. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated, and Poisson multiple regression analysis was performed. The cohort comprised 42,357 patients, of which 3556 died. The overall SMR was 1.62 (95% confidence interval = 1.57-1.67). SMRs for natural causes of death ranged from 1.25 to 2.30, whereas the SMR for violent deaths was 3.45. Both serious and common mental disorders showed a significant excess of mortality, although higher rates were found in severe mental disorders, especially in personality disorders. Different from most published studies, the overall SMR slightly decreased during the study period. The present study, though confirming that people with mental disorders present a higher risk of mortality, calls for prevention strategies oriented to all psychiatric diagnoses.

Do fewer males present to clinical high-risk services for psychosis relative to first-episode services?

AIM

A decline in the rate of transition to psychosis in patients presenting with clinical high-risk has been reported in the literature. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain this decline. In this brief report, we aimed to explore whether the demographic group presenting to clinical high-risk services differs from the 'end-point' population who present with first-episode psychosis (FEP), by focusing on gender.

METHOD

Gender distribution was compared between clinical high-risk (CHR) and FEP using data extracted from published study samples and clinical data from corresponding cohorts within the same catchment area in South London.

RESULTS

The proportion of males was significantly higher in FEP compared to CHR services in the literature describing Europe, Australia and North America and in the clinical cohort from South London.

CONCLUSION

Males are under-represented in existing CHR services in Europe, Australia and North America. This could reflect less willingness in males to seek help if experiencing low-level psychological distress and may be related to the declining transition.

Does Cannabis Cause, Exacerbate or Ameliorate Psychiatric Disorders? An Oversimplified Debate Discussed

There have been extensive policy shifts in the legality of recreational and therapeutic use of cannabis in the United States, as well as a steady increase in the number of people using the drug on a regular basis. Given these rapid societal changes, defining what is known scientifically about the consequences of cannabis use on mental health takes on added public health significance. The purpose of this circumspectives piece is to discuss evidence of cannabis' effects on two psychiatric conditions: post-traumatic stress disorder and psychotic disorders. Dr Haney and Dr Evins will discuss two viewpoints regarding the benefit and harm of cannabis use for these conditions, while outlining what remains unproven and requires further testing to move the field forward.

First-episode psychosis in the criminal justice system: identifying a critical intercept for early intervention

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to:Evaluate emerging concepts of identification, treatment and discharge planning for individuals who are experiencing a first psychotic episode while detained in the criminal justice system.

ABSTRACT

The United States incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world. The system of jails and prisons that holds those individuals has become the largest provider of mental health care in the country, with rates of psychotic illness many times higher than in the community. A subset of this population includes individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis who are untreated and are new to the rules of institutional settings. Retrospective and anecdotal reports indicate that many individuals in the criminal justice system have first-episode psychosis, yet no published information is available about the actual rates. For these patients, behavior associated with psychotic symptoms may have led to their arrest, but correctional facilities are poorly equipped to identify their needs and to provide the type of comprehensive treatment needed to improve functional status, quality of life, and illness recovery. Even as first-episode programs are flourishing in community settings, we know little about how to identify, engage, possibly divert, and treat these patients in settings designed as punishment. Efforts should be made both to reduce the number of these individuals inappropriately prosecuted within the criminal justice system and to begin in-jail efforts to engage them in treatment, in anticipation of their eventual return to the community.

Cognitive changes in patients with acute phase psychosis--effects of illicit drug use

Illicit drug use may influence cognition in non-affective psychosis. Previous studies have shown better cognition in psychosis with illicit drug use as compared to psychosis only. Possibly, illicit drug using patients have more transient drug-related cognitive deficits. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine cognitive change the first weeks after admission to a psychiatric emergency ward, expecting more cognitive improvement at follow-up in the illicit drug group as compared to psychosis only. Patients with acute non-affective psychosis with (26%) and without illicit drug use were examined at baseline (n=123) and follow-up (n=67), with alternative forms of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Latent Growth Curve models, controlling for cognition at baseline and age differences between the groups, were used to analyze cognitive change. The illicit drug using patients showed the largest improvement in cognition, especially among the youngest patients. Younger patients with non-affective psychosis and illicit drug use showed more cognitive improvement the first weeks after acute psychosis as compared to psychosis only. This suggests that the illicit drug users constitute a sub-group with less stable cognitive deficits and less cognitive vulnerability.

The Cannabis Pathway to Non-Affective Psychosis may Reflect Less Neurobiological Vulnerability

There is a high prevalence of cannabis use reported in non-affective psychosis. Early prospective longitudinal studies conclude that cannabis use is a risk factor for psychosis, and neurochemical studies on cannabis have suggested potential mechanisms for this effect. Recent advances in the field of neuroscience and genetics may have important implications for our understanding of this relationship. Importantly, we need to better understand the vulnerability × cannabis interaction to shed light on the mediators of cannabis as a risk factor for psychosis. Thus, the present study reviews recent literature on several variables relevant for understanding the relationship between cannabis and psychosis, including age of onset, cognition, brain functioning, family history, genetics, and neurological soft signs (NSS) in non-affective psychosis. Compared with non-using non-affective psychosis, the present review shows that there seem to be fewer stable cognitive deficits in patients with cannabis use and psychosis, in addition to fewer NSS and possibly more normalized brain functioning, indicating less neurobiological vulnerability for psychosis. There are, however, some familiar and genetic vulnerabilities present in the cannabis psychosis group, which may influence the cannabis pathway to psychosis by increasing sensitivity to cannabis. Furthermore, an earlier age of onset suggests a different pathway to psychosis in the cannabis-using patients. Two alternative vulnerability models are presented to integrate these seemingly paradoxical findings.