# Clinical Research on Endocannabinoid System and Psychosis > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-psychosis-research/ > **Published:** 2026-04-25T13:42:57-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T10:57:49-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore endocannabinoid system psychosis research revealing clinical evidence on treatment and outcomes for first episode psychosis patients. --- #### Clinical Takeaway People experiencing their first episode of psychosis have elevated rates of criminal legal involvement that correlate with psychotic symptom severity, [substance use](https://cedclinic.com/stroke-risk-assessment-substance-use/), and untreated illness duration. Early intervention programs and comprehensive treatment addressing psychosis, co-occurring substance use, and psychosocial support may reduce legal involvement during the critical early stages of psychotic illness. ### #13 Correlates and Predictors of Criminal Legal Involvement in People With First-Episode Psychosis. **Citation:** Scanlon Faith et al. *Correlates and Predictors of Criminal Legal Involvement in People With First-Episode Psychosis.* The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 2026. PMID: 41920015. **Study type:** Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial  |  **Topic area:** Psychosis  |  **CED Score:** 11 Design: 5 Journal: 0 N: 2 Recency: 3 Pop: 2 Human: 1 Risk: -2 **Quality Gate Alerts:** - Preclinical only **Abstract:** Objective: Because limited research has evaluated criminal legal involvement (CLI) during a first episode of psychosis (FEP), we explored rates, correlates, and predictors of CLI among people with FEP. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis on the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode-Early Treatment Program (RAISE-ETP) study, a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted from 2010 to 2012 with people experiencing FEP in the US. We explored rates of recent CLI prior to baseline and over the 2-year follow-up and evaluated predictors of CLI at baseline and over the follow-up period (N = 381). Results: At baseline, 11% of the sample reported CLI within the past month, which was significantly associated with lower education, longer duration of untreated psychosis, lifetime alcohol or any drug use disorder (other than cannabis), and more severe excitement factor symptoms on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Over the 2-year follow-up, 13.6% of the sample reported CLI which, controlling for baseline CLI, was predicted by longer duration of untreated psychosis, schizophrenia diagnosis, lifetime alcohol or any other drug use disorder, alcohol or [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/) in the 30 days prior to baseline, and more severe positive and excitement symptoms on the PANSS at baseline. Those with CLI at baseline were nearly 3 times more likely to have subsequent CLI over the follow-up. Baseline CLI was associated with dropping out of treatment due to incarceration. Conclusion: The findings suggest that CLI in people with FEP could be reduced by earlier detection and more effective treatment of psychotic symptoms, substance use, and criminogenic risk factors. Trial Registration: Data used in this secondary analysis are from ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01321177.  |  [View on PubMed ↗](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41920015/)[DOI ↗](https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.25m15991) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. 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[Read More](https://cedclinic.com/first-episode-psychosis-predictors-endocannabinoid-system/) [Medical Cannabis Evidence-Based Care: Endocannabinoid System Clinical Research and Cannabinoid Clinical Trials](https://cedclinic.com/early-intervention-first-episode-psychosis-legal-risk-reduction/) Review evidence-based care approaches integrating [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) and [endocannabinoid system](https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-fear-extinction/) research in [clinical trials](https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-emotional-memory-ptsd-treatment/). [Explore Now](https://cedclinic.com/early-intervention-first-episode-psychosis-legal-risk-reduction/) [Endocannabinoid System in First-Episode Psychosis Care](https://cedclinic.com/first-episode-psychosis-criminal-legal-involvement/) Learn about the application of endocannabinoid system knowledge in managing first-episode psychosis patients. 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