Abstract
Substance misuse is common in early psychosis, and impacts negatively on outcomes. Little is known about effective interventions for this population. We report a pilot study of brief intervention for substance misuse in early psychosis (Start Over and Survive: SOS), comparing it with Standard Care (SC). Twenty-five in-patients aged 18 – 35 years with early psychosis and current misuse of non-opioid drugs were allocated randomly to conditions. Substance use and related problems were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 months. Final assessments were blind to condition. All 13 SOS participants who proceeded to motivational interviewing reported less substance use at 6 months, compared with 58% (7/12) in SC alone. Effects were well maintained to 12 months. However, more SOS participants lived with a relative or partner, and this also was associated with better outcomes. Engagement remained challenging: 39% (16/41) declined participation and 38% (5/13) in SOS only received rapport building. Further research will increase sample size, and address both engagement and potential confounds. [Kavanagh DJ, Young R, White A, Saunders JB, Wallis J, Shockley N, Jenner L, Clair A. A brief motivational intervention for substance misuse in recent-onset psychosis. Drug Alcohol Rev 2004;23:151 – 155]
David J. Kavanagh PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Ross Young PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Angela White MPsych, Research Officer, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, John B. Saunders MD FRACP, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Jeff Wallis MPsych, Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Natalie Shockley BSc, Research Officer, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Linda Jenner MappScRes, Alcohol and Drug Services, The Prince Charles Hospital and Health Service District; Anne Clair Mpsych, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research, Queensland, Australia.
David J. Kavanagh PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Ross Young PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Angela White MPsych, Research Officer, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, John B. Saunders MD FRACP, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Jeff Wallis MPsych, Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Natalie Shockley BSc, Research Officer, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland; Linda Jenner MappScRes, Alcohol and Drug Services, The Prince Charles Hospital and Health Service District; Anne Clair Mpsych, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research, Queensland, Australia.