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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/103066
Subclinical depressive symptoms and continued cannabis use: predictors of negative outcomes in first episode psychosis
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BACKGROUND: Although depressive symptoms in first episode psychosis have been associated with cannabis abuse, their influence on the long-term functional course of FEP patients who abuse cannabis is unknown. The aims of the study were to examine the influence of subclinical depressive symptoms on the long-term outcome in first episode-psychosis patients who were cannabis users and to assess the influence of these subclinical depressive symptoms on the ability to quit cannabis use. METHODS: 64 FEP patients who were cannabis users at baseline were followed-up for 5 years. Two groups were defined: (a) patients with subclinical depressive symptoms at least once during follow-up (DPG), and (b) patients without subclinical depressive symptoms during follow-up (NDPG). Psychotic symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), depressive symptoms using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)-17, and psychosocial functioning was assessed using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the combined influence of cannabis use and subclinical depressive symptomatology on the clinical outcome. RESULTS: Subclinical depressive symptoms were associated with continued abuse of cannabis during follow-up (β= 4.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.78 to 11.17; P = .001) and with worse functioning (β = -5.50; 95% CI: -9.02 to -0.33; P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical depressive symptoms and continued cannabis abuse during follow-up could be predictors of negative outcomes in FEP patients.
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GONZÁLEZ ORTEGA, Itxaso, et al. Subclinical depressive symptoms and continued cannabis use: predictors of negative outcomes in first episode psychosis. PLoS One. 2015. Vol. 10, num. 4, pags. e0123707. ISSN 1932-6203. [consulted: 11 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/103066