[Case Formulation in Early Psychosis: What are the Tools for Teamwork?]

The Link Between Cannabis Use and Violent Behavior in the Early Phase of Psychosis: The Potential Role of Impulsivity

INTRODUCTION

Recently, the literature has shown that Cannabis Use (CU) was a risk factor for Violent Behavior (VB) in patients with psychosis, and those in the early phase of psychosis (EPP). These findings are relevant because of the high prevalence of CU in this EPP, and the potential for prevention during this phase of illness. However, there is still a lack of clear explanations, supported by empirical evidence, about what underlies the link between CU and VB against other.

METHOD

This viewpoint reviews the scientific literature on the link between CU and VB, and the involvement of impulsivity in this relationship. This last point will be addressed at clinical and neurobiological levels.

RESULTS

Recent studies confirmed that CU is particularly high in the EPP, and is a risk factor for VB in the EPP and schizophrenia. Studies have also shown that impulsivity is a risk factor for VB in psychosis, is associated with CU, and may mediate the link between CU and VB. Research suggests a neurobiological mechanism, as CU affects the structures and function of frontal areas, known to play a role in impulsive behavior.

CONCLUSION

Scientific evidence support the hypothesis of an involvement of impulsivity as a variable that could mediate the link between CU and aggression, particularly, when CU has an early onset. However, this hypothesis should be confirmed with longitudinal studies and by taking into account confounding factors. The studies highlight the relevance of early prevention in the EPP, in addition to interventions focusing on psychotic disorders.

Rate and predictors of disengagement in an early psychosis program with time limited intensification of treatment

BACKGROUND

Service disengagement is a frequent problem in early intervention in psychosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the rate and variables associated with service disengagement in a three year specialized program that allows treatment intensification on a case to case basis.

METHODS

328 early psychosis patients were assessed at baseline on a large set of socio-demographic and clinical variables and were followed-up over 36 months. Patients who left the program for reasons related to engagement with care were compared to patients who completed the program.

RESULTS

Rates of disengagement were low (6.3%). Patients with lower socio-economic status, who committed offences during the program or with a diagnosis of Schizophreniform/brief psychotic disorder were more likely to disengage from the program.

CONCLUSIONS

The engagement strategies implemented in the context of our early intervention programs have allowed to keep disengagements to a relatively low level. In this context, only 3 variables emerged to guide adaptation of the intervention in order to improve this already good engagement rate.

[Three clinical risk profiles of violent behavior in a cohort of early psychosis patients]

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine whether it is possible to identify clinical profiles at risk of violent behaviors (VB) in the early phase of psychotic disorders, on the basis of the main dynamic psychopathological risk factors and describe characteristics of the groups with highest levels of violent behaviors.

METHOD

A total of 265 patients, aged 18 to 35, treated at the Treatment and early Intervention in Psychosis Program (TIPP-Lausanne), a specialized early psychosis program, were included in this study. We conducted a latent-class analysis and a discriminative analysis on the basis of the main dynamic VB risk factors: substance use disorder, impulsivity, positive symptoms, insight, aggression, hostility, anger, emotional instability and adherence to treatment. These factors were evaluated by specialized scales and on the basis of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). VB were restricted to physical aggression against people, defined as "serious violence". They were assessed on the basis of a questionnaire listing violent offenses (Swiss Criminal Code) and VB such as assault and battery, information through the forensic psychiatric services and on the basis of the Staff Observation Aggression Scale (SOAS-R scale) during inpatient treatment phase.

RESULTS

Four heterogeneous subgroups were identified with respect to the studied clinical characteristics, including two groups with high rates of VB. The first group, comprising 46% of patients with VB, is distinguished by the prevalence of a range of dimensions related to hostility, impulsivity and emotional instability, associated with high levels of substance abuse and positive symptoms. These clinical dimensions are very significant at the statistical level, since they explain 70% of the construction of subgroups (discriminant analysis). The second group with 37% of patients with VB, is characterized by a lack of insight, lack of adherence to treatment and substance use. These two clinical profiles could increase the impairment of cognitive, functional and relational abilities and contribute to the development of VB in this early phase of psychosis. The third subgroup, with a violent behaviors rate of 28.6%, is distinguished by its high proportion of diagnoses of substance abuse (100%) and women (54%). A last subgroup of patients, the largest quantitatively, has a low proportion of VB (15%) and the lowest levels on the studied factors, suggesting that the majority of patients with this profile commit few VB.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that it is possible to identify groups at risk of violent behaviors during the early phase of psychosis on the basis of clinical characteristics that may evolve and therefore be the focus of preventive care. These results highlight the need to target substance use, impulsivity and lack of insight at follow-up in order to prevent VB.