Intensity of Psychoactive Substance Use Affects the Occurrence of Prodromal Symptoms of Psychosis.
Journal of clinical medicine – January 28, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
Heavy drug use may predict early warning signs of psychosis, according to data from 703 substance users. Higher scores on drug addiction screenings (DUDIT) strongly correlated with increased prodromal symptoms - early indicators that can precede serious mental health conditions. Cannabis, MDMA, and amphetamine users who started earlier in life showed greater risk of developing these concerning symptoms. The findings highlight the link between substance intensity and psychological vulnerability.
Abstract
Psychosis is defined as a series of symptoms that impair the mind and lead to a kind of loss of reference to reality. Development of psychosis is usually preceded by the appearance of prodromal symptoms. Numerous attempts have been made to find out how psychoactive substances can influence the onset and development of psychotic disorders, but to date there are no studies that show a link between the onset of prodromal symptoms and the use of psychoactive substances. A survey consisting of epidemiological and demographic questions, the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), and the Prodromal Questionnaire Brief Version (PQ-B) was conducted on social media among users of illegal psychoactive substances, covering 703 study participants. A total of 39.8% of the respondents had been treated by a psychiatrist, and the most popular drugs used by respondents in their lifetime were tetrahydrocannabinol-containing products, MDMA, amphetamines, and LSD. A significant correlation was found between the DUDIT and the PQ-B values. Intensity of psychoactive substance use correlated positively with the risk of appearance and intensity of prodromal symptoms of psychosis. Early exposure to psychoactive substances increased the risk of heavy substance use in adulthood and led to more frequent prodromal states.