Can Substance-Induced Psychoses (SIP) Shed Light on the Paradigm of Schizophrenia?
Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology and Addiction March 10, 2026 Filippo Maria Ferro, Alessio Mosca
Substance-induced psychoses may help uncover mechanisms behind psychotic disorders and clarify the phenomenological specifics of schizophrenia. Some patients do not fully recover after an episode, suggesting persistent psychotic trajectories distinct from both acute substance-induced psychosis and primary psychotic disorders. The concept of Substance-Related Exogenous Psychosis positions exogenous psychoses as related to, but not identical with, schizophrenia. Drawing on classical psychopathology and recent self-disorder research, substance-induced psychoses can serve as heuristic models for exploring psychosis genesis. Comparisons using the EASE interview show similarities but also differences: substance-induced psychoses involve more superficial, transient self-alterations, while schizophrenia involves deeper, structurally embedded disturbances. This framework aims to guide future longitudinal studies.