This is a multi-site, two-arm, open-label, pilot randomized control trial, involving 100 young adults diagnosed with psychosis and cannabis use disorder (CUD). Participants will be randomly assigned to either:~Arm 1. Early intervention services (EIS): early intervention for psychosis, including standard of care for psychosis and CUD following Canadian guidelines.~Arm 2. iCC + modified EIS (mEIS): The iCC is an application-based intervention that includes psychotherapeutic modules based on Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Participants in this arm also receive the same services as in EIS, excluding formal psychotherapeutic interventions for CUD.~Participants will complete assessments at baseline, and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks from baseline.
The concerning lack of research related to technology-based psychological interventions in individuals with psychosis and cannabis use disorder (CUD) led to the design a randomized control trial (RCT) with an innovative mobile health e-intervention called ICanChange (iCC). Randomized control trials (RCTs) on well-defined samples (limited to psychosis and CUD) are needed to generate evidence on e-health interventions in individuals with psychosis and CUD. As such, an RCT will be conducted to assess the acceptability and feasibility of administering this e-intervention to young people with psychosis who use cannabis. Besides having scarce cannabis interventions adapted for people with psychosis, there are other barriers to addressing problematic cannabis use, such as the challenging and inadequate access to mental health and substance use services by this population. Implementing these and other approaches in the context of a harm reduction intervention or applying other strategies seeking to minimize cannabis-related harms for people who wish to continue using cannabis may be key in helping individuals set realistic goals that are important and relevant to them.