"It’s hard to draw too many conclusions from this; it’s just preliminary data, but we like to think that joining the PEER program has been helpful, and contributes to decreasing the perceived distress and stabilizing the psychotic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. We’re happy to find out that there’s less disruption, or at least less perceived disruption, in their lives, and we clearly have to focus more on alcohol- and marijuana-focused treatments," said Dr. Birnbaum.
The investigators hope to follow the patients longitudinally to determine what works and what does not, and, ideally, to be able to contribute to future guidelines on intervention in psychosis, he concluded.
Dr. Birnbaum disclosed no relevant conflicts of interest.