NCT05310981

A Cannabis E-intervention for Young Cannabis Users With Early Psychosis (iCC)

A Randomized Pilot Trial of ICanChange, a Mobile Health Intervention to Reduce Cannabis Use in Young Adults With Psychosis

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (actual)
• Sponsor: Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The concerning lack of research related to technology-based psychological interventions in individuals with psychosis and cannabis use disorder (CUD) led to the design a randomized control trial (RCT) with an innovative mobile health e-intervention called ICanChange (iCC). Randomized control trials (RCTs) on well-defined samples (limited to psychosis and CUD) are needed to generate evidence on e-health interventions in individuals with psychosis and CUD. As such, an RCT will be conducted to assess the acceptability and feasibility of administering this e-intervention to young people with psychosis who use cannabis. Besides having scarce cannabis interventions adapted for people with psychosis, there are other barriers to addressing problematic cannabis use, such as the challenging and inadequate access to mental health and substance use services by this population. Implementing these and other approaches in the context of a harm reduction intervention or applying other strategies seeking to minimize cannabis-related harms for people who wish to continue using cannabis may be key in helping individuals set realistic goals that are important and relevant to them.

Detailed description

This is a multi-site, two-arm, open-label, pilot randomized control trial, involving 100 young adults diagnosed with psychosis and cannabis use disorder (CUD). Participants will be randomly assigned to either: Arm 1. Early intervention services (EIS): early intervention for psychosis, including standard of care for psychosis and CUD following Canadian guidelines. Arm 2. iCC + modified EIS (mEIS): The iCC is an application-based intervention that includes psychotherapeutic modules based on Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Participants in this arm also receive the same services as in EIS, excluding formal psychotherapeutic interventions for CUD. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks from baseline.

Conditions

• Cannabis Use Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	iCanChange	iCC is a psychological app based intervention that will be delivered in form of up to 24 brief (10-15 minutes) interactive modules developed based on the principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). During the intervention, participants will be offered MI and CBT-based activities (i.e., modules and strategies) aiming at facilitating change in cannabis use. At any point during the intervention, participants can reference modules that had been completed. Due to the frequency of behavioral stage changes in this population (e.g., regression in behavioral stage of change), stage of change will be monitored regularly throughout the intervention. During the follow-up period (i.e., Week 12-24), participants will have continuous access to the smart phone application and all built-in add-ons as described above. During this period, they will have access to 3 booster session.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-07-06
• Primary completion: 2024-07-31
• Completion: 2024-07-31
• First posted: 2022-04-05
• Last updated: 2025-12-23

Locations

5 sites across 1 country: Canada