Communication Skills for Cannabis Use

(STAC Trial)

Overseen By Ty Tristao, BA

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Washington

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, No Zoom access

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to help families improve communication skills to support young people dealing with psychosis and heavy cannabis use. It focuses on training family members to discuss cannabis use more effectively, with the goal of reducing use and stress within the family. Participants will be divided into two groups: one receiving standard education and support, and the other receiving specialized communication training called Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF). Suitable candidates for the trial are adults who regularly interact with a loved one in treatment for psychosis and have recently used cannabis. Sessions will occur weekly via Zoom, with assessments conducted before, after, and three months following the trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers families a unique opportunity to enhance communication skills and support their loved ones more effectively.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for family members of young people with psychosis?

Research has shown that the Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF) program enhances communication skills in families of young people with psychosis who frequently use cannabis. This program involves no drugs or medical treatments, eliminating safety concerns such as side effects or reactions typical in medication trials.

The program includes sessions that teach families effective communication about cannabis use. It is considered safe because it focuses solely on communication skills. Early results suggest participants find the program practical and helpful.

Without medical treatments involved, traditional safety concerns related to drugs are not an issue. Instead, the program aims to improve family interactions and understanding, potentially leading to positive changes in cannabis use habits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF) because it focuses on improving communication within families to address cannabis use in individuals experiencing first episode psychosis. Unlike standard treatments that may primarily involve psychoeducation or direct interventions targeting the individual, CCSF empowers family members with specific communication strategies. This method aims to reduce conflict, enhance understanding, and support behavior change in a supportive group setting, all conducted conveniently via Zoom. This approach not only targets the individual's behavior but also strengthens the family unit's ability to support their loved one, which is a fresh angle in managing cannabis-related issues in psychosis.

What evidence suggests that the Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families intervention is effective for improving communication skills and reducing cannabis use in young people with psychosis?

This trial will compare the effectiveness of two approaches: the Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF) program and Treatment as Usual (TAU) Control. Research has shown that families can help young people with psychosis reduce cannabis use. Studies have found that improved communication among family members can lead to better outcomes. Teaching families how to discuss cannabis use can reduce arguments and encourage loved ones to consider using less. While more data is still being collected, these early methods appear promising in enhancing family discussions. Overall, the aim is to help families become supportive partners in promoting healthier choices. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Denise Walker, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Arizona State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18 or older who have a young family member with psychosis and heavy cannabis use. Participants must be in close contact (at least 10 hours per week) with their loved one, who should be receiving treatment for first-episode psychosis and using cannabis frequently.

Inclusion Criteria

I spend 10+ hours weekly with a loved one who has early psychosis.

Has a loved one who is both in CSC treatment for FEP and has used cannabis on at least 9 days in the past 30

Exclusion Criteria

I cannot read or speak English well enough for study materials.

Do not have access to Zoom

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Development

Development of a family intervention informed by a Stakeholder Advisory Board and pre-testing with 10 family member participants

4 weeks

Treatment

Family members receive training in communication skills to support reduced cannabis use in young adults with psychosis

6 weeks

6 sessions (90 minutes each) held weekly via Zoom

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF)

Trial Overview

The study tests a new intervention called Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF), designed to help families communicate better about cannabis use with young people experiencing psychosis. The goal is to improve communication skills, reduce emotional stress, and lessen caregiver burden.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The purpose of the intervention is to train family members in communication skills that may increase contemplation of change in their loved one with first episode psychosis to reduce cannabis use, decrease conflict surrounding these discussions, and provide skills to understand when and how to approach their loved one about cannabis use and encourage treatment. Six sessions (90 minutes each) will be held weekly in a closed group format via Zoom, with the same therapist leading each group. Group size will be 3-8 participants, with an average wait time of 4 weeks. Assessments will occur at baseline, post-treatment, and at a 3-month follow-up.

Group II: Treatment as Usual (TAU) Control Active Control 1 Intervention

In this project, treatment as usual will consist of psychoeducation on cannabis and its impacts on psychosis and family services otherwise provided to participants through their participation in the coordinated specialty care program at which their loved one is enrolled. The investigators will track what each family receives and characterize the content and dose in analysis.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Washington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,858

Recruited

2,023,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Only about 20% of individuals undergoing treatment for cannabis dependence achieve long-term abstinence, highlighting the need for more effective and accessible treatment options.

Psychotherapeutic strategies, especially combination therapies that include motivational interventions and behavioral skills training, have shown larger effect sizes for cannabis dependence compared to other substance use disorders, indicating their potential effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

State of the art treatments for cannabis dependence. Danovitch, I., Gorelick, DA.[2021]

Adding medical cannabis to prescription opioids for chronic pain patients showed very low certainty evidence of reducing opioid use, with no significant impact on pain relief or sleep disturbance based on five randomized trials and twelve observational studies.

However, the addition of cannabis was associated with an increased risk of nausea and vomiting, indicating potential adverse effects that need to be considered when evaluating its use in chronic pain management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Opioid-sparing effects of medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and observational studies. Noori, A., Miroshnychenko, A., Shergill, Y., et al.[2022]

The safety of cannabis and cannabinoid medications is a significant concern, and while some safety information can be drawn from recreational use studies, medical and recreational users may experience different effects.

There is a pressing need for long-term safety monitoring of cannabinoid use in patients, as clinical experience is still developing, which will help inform both therapeutic decisions and public policy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety issues concerning the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids. Ware, MA., Tawfik, VL.[2019]

The digital intervention ICan, which incorporates motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy, was more effective than standard educational information in reducing the amount of cannabis used over a 3-month period, showing a significant reduction in grams used (P=0.009).

However, by the 6-month follow-up, both the ICan and control groups showed similar reductions in the number of cannabis use days, indicating that while ICan had initial benefits, its long-term effectiveness in reducing frequency of use was not significantly different from the control group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A guided digital intervention to reduce cannabis use: The ICan randomized controlled trial. Olthof, MIA., Goudriaan, AE., van Laar, MW., et al.[2023]

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