A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL-USE BY PSYCHOSIS-PRONE AND IMPULSIVE-NONCONFORMING INDIVIDUALS

The rates of substance use and abuse are higher among psychotic patien ts and antisocial individuals than in the general population. In a 10- year longitudinal study, psychosis-prone individuals identified by the Perceptual Aberration (L. J. Chapman, J. P. Chapman, M. L. Raulin, 19 76) and Magical Ideation (Per-Mag) scales (M. Eckblad & L. J. Chapman, 1983), and individuals with antisocial traits, identified by the Impu lsive Nonconformity (Noncon) scale (L. J. Chapman et al., 1984), excee ded a control group on rates of substance use disorders. As hypothesiz ed, the Per-Mag group demonstrated preferential patterns of substance use similar to those reported for schizophrenic patients. Participants who scored deviantly on both the Per-Mag and Noncon scales were at es pecially heightened risk for substance use disorders. Psychosis pronen ess at the initial screening predicted substance abuse at the follow-u p evaluation, but substance abuse at the initial interview did not pre dict later clinical psychosis or psychoticlike experiences.