Randomized controlled trial of a cannabis-focused intervention for young people with first-episode psychosis

Objective: To evaluate a cannabis-focused intervention (cannabis and psychosis therapy: CAP) for patients continuing to use cannabis following initial treatment for first-episode psychosis (FEP). Method: Consecutive admissions to an early psychosis program were screened and consenting individuals using cannabis in the 4 weeks prior to assessment participated. A single-blind randomized controlled trial compared CAP (n = 23) with a clinical control condition (psychoeducation, PE; n = 24). Results: There were no significant differences between the CAP and PE groups on cannabis use at end of treatment and 6 months post-intervention. There were no significant group differences on psychopathology and functional ratings at follow-up. A significant reduction in cannabis use was observed for both groups over time. Conclusion: PE and specific cannabis-focused intervention are associated with similar reductions in cannabis use in an FEP cohort. Simple interventions may therefore be worth considering prior to intensive psychotherapeutic efforts with this population.