Does the Fast Track Intervention Prevent Later Psychosis Symptoms?

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Psychopathology
• Preventive Interventions

Background:

• Antisocial behavior in childhood is a risk factor for later mental health issues.
• The Fast Track (FT) intervention is a multimodal program targeting childhood antisocial development.
• Its potential to prevent psychosis symptoms was previously unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the FT intervention prevents psychosis symptoms from childhood through adulthood.
• To analyze the long-term effects of a multimodal intervention on psychosis symptom trajectories.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study with 891 high-risk children (69% male, mean age 6.58 years).
• Intervention group received multimodal treatment; control group received standard care.
• Psychosis symptoms assessed via parent and self-reports from childhood to age 25, controlling for covariates and cannabis use.

Main Results:

• Intervention status was not directly associated with psychosis symptom trajectory.
• However, FT participants reported significantly lower psychosis symptoms over time when controlling for concurrent cannabis use.
• Cannabis use emerged as a significant moderator of the intervention's effect on psychosis symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Multimodal interventions targeting childhood antisocial behavior may offer long-term psychosis symptom prevention.
• Addressing cannabis use may be crucial for maximizing the benefits of such interventions.
• Findings highlight the interconnectedness of antisocial behavior, cannabis use, and psychosis risk.