~213 spots leftby Dec 2027

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcoholism and Cannabis Abuse

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Overseen ByMatthew Sloan, MD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May be covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?This 2-arm study will recruit participants with 1) alcohol use disorder and 2) cannabis use disorder for a 12-week cognitive behavioral therapy, following a thorough baseline assessments on executive function, incentive salience, and negative emotionality.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you must be able to safely abstain from alcohol and cannabis for 12 hours before assessments.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for alcoholism and cannabis abuse?

Research shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is effective for treating both alcohol and cannabis use disorders. Studies have found that people who received CBT reported better outcomes, such as increased abstinence and fewer substance-related problems, compared to those who did not receive the treatment.

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Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) safe for treating alcohol and cannabis use disorders?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is generally considered safe for treating various substance use disorders, including alcohol and cannabis use. It is a well-established, evidence-based treatment that has been used safely in both individual and group settings.

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How is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) different from other treatments for alcoholism and cannabis abuse?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is unique because it focuses on changing thought patterns and behaviors related to substance use, and it can be delivered in various formats, including computer-based programs, which makes it more accessible and flexible compared to traditional in-person therapy sessions.

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Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 who have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or cannabis use disorder (CUD), are willing to participate in group therapy, and can abstain from substances before assessments. They must meet specific criteria for risky drinking or frequent cannabis use. Those unable to communicate in English or unwilling to follow the study's abstinence requirements cannot join.

Participant Groups

The study tests if assessing three brain functions—executive function, incentive salience, and negative emotionality—before treatment can predict how well people with AUD or CUD respond to therapy. Participants will receive 12 weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with additional pharmacotherapy for AUD if needed.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Cannabis Use DisorderExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will be treated with 12 weeks of CBT + motivational enhancement therapy for CUD (group therapy).
Group II: Alcohol Use DisorderExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will be treated with 12 weeks of CBT for AUD (group therapy) and have the option to receive evidence-based pharmacotherapy for AUD guided by a pharmacotherapy algorithm.

Find A Clinic Near You

Research locations nearbySelect from list below to view details:
Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthToronto, Canada
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Who is running the clinical trial?

Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthLead Sponsor
Innovation Fund of the Alternative Funding Plan for the Academic Health Sciences Centres of OntarioCollaborator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)Collaborator
AFP Innovation FundCollaborator

References

Behavioral therapies for treatment-seeking cannabis users: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2022]Narrative reviews conclude that behavioral therapies (BTs) produce better outcomes than control conditions for cannabis use disorders (CUDs). However, the strength and consistency of this effect has not been directly empirically examined. The present meta-analysis combined multiple well-controlled studies to help clarify the overall impact of behavioral interventions in the treatment of CUDs. A comprehensive literature search produced 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs; n = 2,027) that were included in the final analyses. Analyses indicated an effect of BTs (including contingency management, relapse prevention, and motivational interviewing, and combinations of these strategies with cognitive behavioral therapy) over control conditions (including waitlist [WL], psychological placebo, and treatment as usual) across pooled outcomes and time points (Hedges' g = 0.44). These results suggest that the average patient receiving a behavioral intervention fared better than 66% of those in the control conditions. BT also outperformed control conditions when examining primary outcomes alone (frequency and severity of use) and secondary outcomes alone (psychosocial functioning). Effect sizes were not moderated by inclusion of a diagnosis (RCTs including treatment-seeking cannabis users who were not assessed for abuse or dependence vs. RCTs including individuals diagnosed as dependent), dose (number of treatment sessions), treatment format (either group vs. individual treatment or in-person vs. non-in-person treatment), sample size, or publication year. Effect sizes were significantly larger for studies that included a WL control comparison versus those including active control comparisons, such that BT significantly outperformed WL controls but not active control comparisons.
Randomized Trial of Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorders: Efficacy as a Virtual Stand-Alone and Treatment Add-On Compared with Standard Outpatient Treatment. [2018]Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs), yet is rarely implemented with high fidelity in clinical practice. Computer-based delivery of CBT offers the potential to address dissemination challenges, but to date there have been no evaluations of a web-based CBT program for alcohol use within a clinical sample.
Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Disorders: Is a One-Size-Fits-All Approach Appropriate? [2023]We provide an overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) efficacy for adult alcohol or other drug use disorders (AOD) and consider some key variations in application as well as contextual (ie, moderators) or mechanistic (ie, mediators) factors related to intervention outcomes.
A randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive-behavioral interventions for cannabis use disorder. [2022]The increasing demand for treatment for cannabis dependence in Australia and internationally has led to the identification of significant gaps in knowledge of effective interventions. A randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBT) for cannabis dependence was undertaken to address this issue. A total of 229 participants were assessed and randomly assigned to either a six-session CBT program (6CBT), a single-session CBT intervention (1CBT), or a delayed-treatment control (DTC) group. Participants were assisted in acquiring skills to promote cannabis cessation and maintenance of abstinence. Participants were followed-up a median of 237 days after last attendance. Participants in the treatment groups reported better treatment outcomes than the DTC group. They were more likely to report abstinence, were significantly less concerned about their control over cannabis use, and reported significantly fewer cannabis-related problems than those in the DTC group. Those in the 6CBT group also reported more significantly reduced levels of cannabis consumption than the DTC group. While the therapist variable had no effect on any outcome, a secondary analysis of the 6CBT and 1CBT groups showed that treatment compliance was significantly associated with decreased dependence and cannabis-related problems. This study supports the attractiveness and effectiveness of individual CBT interventions for cannabis use disorders and the need for multisite replication trials.
Positive and negative affect in cocaine use disorder treatment: Change across time and relevance to treatment outcome. [2020]Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) for substance use disorder is empirically supported, and may be associated with change in affect over time.
Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot randomised control trial. [2019]Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD), generally in individual or group therapy, but not via computer. Aim This study examined the effectiveness of an interactive, personalised, computer-based CBT therapy in a randomised control trial.
A pilot economic evaluation of computerized cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol use disorder as an addition and alternative to traditional therapy. [2023]Computer-based delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be a less costly approach to increase dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, comprehensive evaluations of costs, cost-effectiveness, and cost-benefit of computer-delivered interventions are rare.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and the nicotine transdermal patch for dual nicotine and cannabis dependence: a pilot study. [2021]We assessed the feasibility of a new cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) manual, plus transdermal patch nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), to treat co-occurring nicotine and cannabis dependence.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for the treatment of co-occurring depression and substance use: current evidence and directions for future research. [2018]ISSUES AND APPROACH: The high rates of co-occurring depression and substance use, and the negative impact of this on illness course and outcomes have been well established. Despite this, few clinical trials have examined the efficacy of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). This paper systematically reviews these clinical trials, with an aim of providing recommendations for how future research can develop a more robust evidence base for the treatment of these common comorbidities. Leading electronic databases, including PubMed (ISI) and PsychINFO (CSA), were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles using CBT for the treatment of co-occurring depression and substance use. Of the 55 articles identified, 12 met inclusion criteria and were included in the review.