Unusual experiences and early-onset psychosis associated to hallucinogen use in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health March 8, 2026 Maite Armanino-Irigaray, Ana Catalán, Claudia Aymerich et al. 1 citation
Among adolescents with early-onset psychosis, about 14% have used hallucinogens, and such use is linked to more complex clinical trajectories including higher rates of suicidality, conduct disorder, reduced educational attainment, and need for depot antipsychotic treatment. In the general adolescent population, hallucinogen use shows only weak and inconsistent associations with psychotic or manic symptoms, which largely disappear after accounting for other drug use and genetic vulnerability. The findings suggest hallucinogens are not an isolated causal trigger for psychosis but may worsen symptoms in youth with neurodevelopmental or genetic predispositions.