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. 2024 Feb 29;67(1):e21.
doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.9.

The relationship between substance use and self-reported aspects of social functioning in patients with a psychotic disorder

H S van der Heijden  1 , Martijn Kikkert  2 , Lieuwe de Haan  1 , Menno Segeren  3 , Simone Molman  1 , Frederike Schirmbeck  1   4 , Jentien Vermeulen  1
Affiliations

The relationship between substance use and self-reported aspects of social functioning in patients with a psychotic disorder

H S van der Heijden et al. Eur Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: In patients with a psychotic disorder, rates of substance use (tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol) are higher compared to the general population. However, little is known about associations between substance use and self-reported aspects of social functioning in patients with a psychotic disorder.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 281 community-dwelling patients with a psychotic disorder, linear regression models were used to assess associations between substance use (tobacco, cannabis, or alcohol) and self-reported aspects of social functioning (perceived social support, stigmatization, social participation, or loneliness) adjusting for confounders (age, gender, and severity of psychopathology).

Results: Compared to nonsmokers, both intermediate and heavy smokers reported lower scores on loneliness (E = -0.580, SE = 0.258, p = 0.025 and E = -0.547, SE = 0,272, p = 0.046, respectively). Daily cannabis users reported less social participation deficits than non-cannabis users (E = -0.348, SE = 0.145, p = 0.017). Problematic alcohol use was associated with more perceived social support compared to non-alcohol use (E = 3.152, SE = 1.102, p = 0.005). Polysubstance users reported less loneliness compared to no users (E = -0.569, SE = 0.287, p = 0.049).

Conclusions: Substance use in patients with psychosis is associated with more favorable scores on various self-reported aspects of social functioning.

Keywords: alcohol; cannabis; psychotic disorder; smoking; social functioning.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that there are no conflicts of interest in relation to the subject of this study.

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