Avatar Therapy for Cannabis Use Disorder (Avatar-CUD Trial)

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Alexandre Dumais, MD, PhD

Research Sponsored by Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment as well as 3- 6- and 12-months follow-up

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tested a VR intervention to help people with psychotic/mood disorders reduce their cannabis use, improve quality of life. Results were promising.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults over 18 with severe mental health disorders like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression who also have Cannabis Use Disorder as defined by the DSM-5. Participants must not be currently receiving treatment for CUD or detoxifying from cannabis and should not have neurological issues or unstable physical illnesses.

What is being tested?

The study tests a new Virtual Reality (VR) Avatar Intervention aimed at reducing cannabis use and its associated problems in patients with certain psychotic and mood disorders. The focus is on seeing if this intervention can lessen the severity of CUD and improve quality of life.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this is a VR-based psychological intervention rather than a drug, typical medication side effects are not expected. However, some participants may experience discomfort with VR such as dizziness or nausea.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment as well as 3- 6- and 12-months follow-up

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment as well as 3- 6- and 12-months follow-up

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment as well as 3- 6- and 12-months follow-up for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Change in cannabis use (Timeline Follow-Back)

Secondary study objectives

Change in psychiatric symptoms (Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale - PANSS)

Change in quality of life (Quality of Life Scale -QLS)

Change in the severity of the cannabis use disorder (Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test - CUPIT)

+1 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Experimental: Avatar InterventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

The Avatar Intervention will take place over 8 consecutive weeks, with one session per week. Each session will last approximately 60 minutes. The goal of the intervention will be to help you reduce cravings related to your cannabis use with the use of virtual reality and avatars.

Do I qualify?Apply below to find out