Testing the Efficacy of an Online Treatment Program for Heavy Cannabis Use

NCT ID: NCT04965012

Last Updated: 2023-12-01

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

152 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-08-25

Study Completion Date

2023-10-01

Brief Summary

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Cannabis is a frequently-used psychoactive substance. While the majority of individuals can use cannabis without experiencing problems, a small minority of people develop cannabis problems. Despite the small-to-medium reported effect sizes of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) treatments for cannabis misuse, many cannabis users do not seek treatment. Online CBT/MET programs have the potential to be cost-effective and accessible, and offer a less stigmatizing option for treatment. These programs may also help capture cannabis users who experience subclinical problems, who are not captured by traditional treatment. Existing treatment programs also need to be adapted to maximize participant retention and increase treatment completion, as many current cannabis use treatment programs have significant drop-out rates. Hence, the goal of the proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to examine the efficacy of an online evidence-based CBT/MET treatment program. Outcomes of a combined CBT/MET treatment program will be compared to a CBT-only treatment program and a waitlist control. This research will provide insight into the novel contribution of MET to online CBT treatment programs for cannabis misuse.

The researchers are hoping to recruit 303 participants for this study from Central and Eastern Canada. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups (i.e., CBT with MET, CBT without MET) or the psychoeducational control group. Individuals in either treatment group will be given 6 weeks to work through 8 online modules. Throughout the modules, participants will identify goals related to cannabis use, learn strategies to cope with cannabis cravings, triggers, and social pressures and learn to prevent relapse. Participants randomly assigned to the control (i.e., psychoeducation) will receive links to websites that provide general psychoeducation about cannabis use and wellbeing. All participants will complete online assessment measures at baseline, end of treatment, and at follow up approximately one month later (i.e., 0 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks) in order to assess the efficacy of the treatment. At the end of the study, individuals in the control group will be given access to the CBT without MET treatment.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Marijuana Use Marijuana Dependence

Keywords

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Cannabis CANreduce Marijuana Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Motivational Enhancement Therapy Online treatment Randomized Controlled Trial

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

A three-arm RCT will be conducted to evaluate the proposed online intervention. Eligible participants will be randomized to the CBT with MET condition, the CBT without MET condition, or the psychoeducational control (i.e., control) condition.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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CBT with MET treatment group

Participants in this arm will be provided with an MET-therapist guided introduction, in addition to the online CBT treatment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Online CBT with MET treatment

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The CBT with MET treatment condition will begin with an MET-therapist guided introduction to the program and first module. After this guided introduction, they will have access to the remaining 7 treatment modules and have 6 weeks to complete them. The content of all modules is derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Through module engagement, participants will identify goals related to cannabis use, learn strategies to cope with cravings, triggers, and social pressures, and learn to how prevent relapse. Participants will work through modules sequentially.

CBT without MET treatment group

Participants in this arm will be provided with a brief non-MET research assistant-led welcome to the program, in addition to the online CBT treatment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

CBT without MET treatment

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The CBT without MET treatment condition will begin with a brief non-MET trained research assistant welcome to the program, and will not include working through the first module together. After this welcome, they will have access to the 8 treatment modules and have 6 weeks to complete them. The content of all modules is derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Through module engagement, participants will identify goals related to cannabis use, learn strategies to cope with cravings, triggers, and social pressures, and learn to how prevent relapse. Participants will work through modules sequentially.

Psychoeducation (Control)

The control group will be provided with psychoeducational resources about cannabis and wellbeing.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Online CBT with MET treatment

The CBT with MET treatment condition will begin with an MET-therapist guided introduction to the program and first module. After this guided introduction, they will have access to the remaining 7 treatment modules and have 6 weeks to complete them. The content of all modules is derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Through module engagement, participants will identify goals related to cannabis use, learn strategies to cope with cravings, triggers, and social pressures, and learn to how prevent relapse. Participants will work through modules sequentially.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

CBT without MET treatment

The CBT without MET treatment condition will begin with a brief non-MET trained research assistant welcome to the program, and will not include working through the first module together. After this welcome, they will have access to the 8 treatment modules and have 6 weeks to complete them. The content of all modules is derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Through module engagement, participants will identify goals related to cannabis use, learn strategies to cope with cravings, triggers, and social pressures, and learn to how prevent relapse. Participants will work through modules sequentially.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Ages 19+
* Living in Manitoba or Ontario, Canada
* Reporting moderate difficulties with cannabis as indicated by a score of 8 or more on the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test - Revised (CUDIT-R; Adamson et al., 2010)
* Fluency in English
* Having weekly Internet access with a device that allows for video connection
* Self-report at least a 6 out of 10 on a Likert-type scale for motivation to reduce cannabis use (i.e., how important it is to reduce cannabis use)

Exclusion Criteria

* Self-reported engagement in other psychological or pharmacological treatments for cannabis use
* Elevated suicidality, as defined by scoring greater than minimal risk on a screener
* Current serious psychiatric disorders or history of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder
* Are a woman who is currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Minimum Eligible Age

19 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Manitoba

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

York University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Matthew Keough

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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University of Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Site Status

York University

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

Other Identifiers

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YM8974384y57393848938nv8493478

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id