Authors
Ovidiu Tatar, Amal Abdel-Baki, Anne Wittevrongel, Tania Lecomte, Jan Copeland, Pamela Lachance-Touchette, Steohanie Coronado-Montoya, José Côté, David Crockford, Simon Debreucq, Sophie L'Heureux, Clairélaine Ouellet-Plamondon, Marc-André Roy, Philip G Tibbo, Marie Villeneuve, Didier Jutras-Aswad
Publication date
2022
Journal
JMIR Preprints
Volume
6
Pages
1-32
Publisher
JMIR Publications, Inc.
Description
Background
Cannabis use is most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, and frequent consumption is associated with cannabis use disorder (CUD) and psychosis, with a high prevalence (up to 50%) of CUD in individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP). Early Intervention Services (EIS) for psychosis include face-to-face psychosocial interventions for CUD because reducing or discontinuing cannabis use improves clinical and healthcare service use outcomes. However, multiple barriers (eg, staff availability, limited access to treatment) can hinder the implementation of these interventions. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions may help circumvent some of these barriers, but to date no study has evaluated the effects of mHealth psychological interventions for CUD in individuals with FEP.
Objective
This manuscript describes the protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a novel mHealth psychological intervention (iCanChange, iCC) to address CUD in young adults with FEP. The iCC was developed based on clinical evidence showing that in individuals without psychosis, integrating principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and behavioural self-management approaches are effective in improving cannabis use-related outcomes.
Methods
Consenting individuals (N= 100) meeting inclusion criteria (eg, 18 to 35 years with FEP and CUD) will be randomly allocated in a 1: 1 ratio to the intervention (iCC+ modified EIS) or the control (EIS) group. The iCC is fully automatized and contains 21 modules that are completed over a 12-weeks period and three booster modules available during …