Guided web-based treatment program for reducing cannabis use: a randomized controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Regular cannabis use is a concern in the general population, affecting both adults and adolescents.
• Web-based interventions offer a potential avenue for treatment delivery.
• Therapist guidance may enhance the efficacy of digital health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a therapist-guided, web-based treatment program for individuals with regular cannabis use.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on the frequency of cannabis consumption.
• To explore the relationship between intervention adherence and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized controlled trial with a parallel group design was employed.
• 151 participants were in the intervention group and 152 in the wait-list control group.
• The primary outcome was the frequency of cannabis use, measured over 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• Intention-to-treat analyses showed no significant difference in cannabis use frequency between groups.
• Intervention adherence was significantly associated with scores on the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST).
• Secondary analyses suggested potential benefits for specific outcomes, but these require cautious interpretation due to limitations.

Conclusions:

• The therapist-guided web-based program was not more effective than a waiting-list condition in reducing cannabis use frequency.
• Further research may be needed to optimize web-based interventions for cannabis use disorder.
• The study highlights the complexity of evaluating digital mental health interventions.