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Reasons for using substances in adolescents with and without psychosis
Author(s) -
Pencer Alissa,
Addington Jean
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2007.00055.x
Subject(s) - psychosis , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , medicine
Aim: To increase our understanding of substance use among adolescents with psychosis by comparing their reasons for use with those of typically developing adolescents. Methods: Participants were 35 outpatient adolescents, recently admitted for a first episode of psychosis to an early psychosis programme, and 35 typically developing adolescents. Measures used included the Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire and Reasons for Use Scale. Results: Adolescents with psychosis used significantly more substances than adolescents without psychosis ( P < 0.01). Reasons for use in the two groups were similar. Conclusions: Although adolescents with psychosis report using substances for the same reasons as other adolescents, they may also use to self‐medicate secondary morbidity associated with psychosis. These results have a number of implications for prevention and treatment.