The clinical impact of a positive family history of psychosis or mental illness in psychotic and non-psychotic mentally ill adolescents.

Background: A family history of psychosis is associated with negative clinical characteristics of psychosis.

Aim: We aimed to determine the relationship between a family history (in first-degree relatives) of psychosis (FHP) or of any mental illness (FHM), and the clinical features (including cannabis use) of first episode early onset psychosis (EOP).

Method: Forty-five adolescents with first episode EOP presenting to psychiatric services were assessed by clinical interview with the following tools: socio-demographic questionnaire, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Symptom Onset in Schizophrenia (SOS) inventory, and the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) for cannabis misuse.

A comparative study of socio-demographic and substance use correlates in early-onset psychosis.

Background: Comorbid substance use, particularly cannabis among adolescents with mental illness, is a major public health concern in developing countries with limited mental health resources. Better understanding of the association between cannabis use and other polysubstance use and early mental illness will provide for more targeted early interventions.

Aim: This aim of this study was to examine the socio-demographic profile and cannabis use characteristics among adolescents with first-episode early-onset psychosis (EOP) and compare with age-matched and gender-matched adolescents with first-episode non-psychotic mental illness (controls).

Causal attributions, pathway to care and clinical features of first-episode psychosis: a South African perspective.

Background: Causal belief systems and help-seeking practices may impact on pathway to care and features of first-episode psychosis (FEP) that have prognostic value. This is particularly relevant in South Africa where many people subscribe to traditional belief systems and consult traditional healers.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between causal attributions and pathway to care and features of FEP that have prognostic value.

Exposure to trauma and the clinical presentation of first-episode psychosis in South Africa.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between a history of traumatic experiences and the clinical features of first-episode psychosis (FEP).

Method: We tested associations between trauma variables and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), age of onset (AO), PANSS-rated positive and negative symptoms and depressive symptoms (Calgary Depression Scale) in a sample of 54 FEP patients.

Results: Mean DUP was 34.