Social functioning trajectories of young first-episode psychosis patients with and without cannabis misuse: a 30-month follow-up study

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 7;10(4):e0122404. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122404. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate trajectories of social functioning in young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) with and without cannabis misuse using a secondary analysis of data from the Episode-II trial. Forty-two young people with FEP and comorbid cannabis use disorder were compared with 39 young people with FEP but without a cannabis use disorder. Social functioning was assessed every 6 months during a 30-month follow-up. Multilevel linear growth curve modeling was used to compare the social functioning trajectories over time for those with and without cannabis misuse. Cannabis misuse was not associated with social functioning at baseline assessment. Over a 30-month follow-up, FEP patients without cannabis disorder showed significant improvements in their social functioning, whereas patients with cannabis misuse at baseline displayed no such improvement. Patients with and without cannabis misuse differed significantly in their levels of social functioning after 24 months. Similar results were obtained after adjusting for potential confounders (i.e., age, gender, negative symptoms, premorbid functioning, DSM-IV diagnoses, baseline social functioning and other substance use). In the context of a specialized early intervention service, patients with cannabis misuse at baseline did not attain the improvements in social outcomes observed in their counterparts without cannabis misuse. There is a need to develop effective interventions to reduce cannabis misuse to ultimately improve social outcomes in young people with psychosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cannabis / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marijuana Abuse / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychotic Disorders / complications*
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology
  • Social Skills*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was funded by an unrestricted grant from Eli Lilly via the Lilly Melbourne Academic Psychiatry Consortium. In addition, the study was supported by the Colonial Foundation and a Program grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (350241). This study was further supported by a grant from the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation to Dr. González-Blanch. Dr. Alvarez-Jimenez is supported by the CR Roper Fellowship, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Science, the University of Melbourne. A/Prof Sue Cotton is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (APP1061998). No funding body had any involvement in any aspect of the study or manuscript.