Brief mindfulness intervention for adults with cannabis use disorder: A randomised clinical trial.
Lorenzetti et al.·Drug and alcohol dependenceImpact 0.8
No benefit demonstratedGRADEModerate1 citations
Samplen = 66 Pat.
Durationmean duration of 16 days
ControlActive control
EndpointCannabis use days
Blindingdoppelblind
DesignRCT
”Key finding
The brief mindfulness intervention showed no significant effects on cannabis frequency, quantity, craving, or other secondary outcomes.
Summary
n=66 adults (18-56 years, 19 female) with cannabis use disorder (CUD), randomized 1:1:1 to Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI, n=23) vs. Relaxation (n=21) vs. Control (n=22); mean intervention duration 16 days. Primary outcome (Δ cannabis use days baseline→follow-up): NO significant intervention×time effects (F=0.26, FDRp=0.86). Secondary outcomes (Δ grams, craving VAS, mindfulness FFMQ, relaxation VAS): likewise no significant effects. Brief MBI showed NO efficacy in reducing cannabis use in CUD.
P
PopulationAdults with cannabis use disorder (CUD), n=66, age 18–56 years, with reduction or cessation attempts in the past 2 years
ControlActive control: relaxation intervention (n=21); passive control (n=22)
O
OutcomeNo significant intervention-by-time effect on cannabis use days (F=0.26, FDRp=.86); no significant effects on secondary outcomes (quantity, craving, mindfulness, relaxation)
Confidence in the evidence
Very lowLowModerateHigh
Moderate
The third of four GRADE levels, the effect estimate is probably reliable.
Downgraded for
Imprecision
Quality profile
Sample size★★★★★
BlindingDouble-blind
Effect sizeNo benefit
Citations / year★★★★★
Authors
Lorenzetti V, McTavish E, Thomson H, Clemente A, Rendell P, Terrett G, Greenwood LM, Freeman TP, Kamboj SK, Manning V
Background: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is characterised by strong cravings and an inability to reduce cannabis use despite experiencing adverse psychosocial outcomes. Brief, accessible, scalable, and low-cost interventions are needed to support people with a CUD. We investigated if a brief mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) reduces cannabis frequency, quantity and craving, compared to both an active and passive control conditions.
Methods: A pre-registered, double-blind randomised control trial was run in in 66 adults (19 female) aged 18-56 with CUD reporting attempts to cut down or quit in the past 2 years, recruited from the general community (October 2019-July 2022). Participants were 1:1:1 allocated, to one of 3 interventions; MBI (n = 23), Relaxation (n = 21) or Control (n = 22) with a mean duration of 16 days, stratified by age and sex. All conditions included daily monitoring of usage. Baseline and follow-up in person testing occurred in Melbourne, Australia. The intervention occurred online. The primary outcome was change in cannabis use days (Delta follow-up minus baseline). Secondary outcomes were changes (Delta follow-up minus baseline) in: cannabis grams and craving (visual analogue scale; VAS), mindfulness (Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire) and relaxation (VAS). We carried out intention-to-treat analysis.
Results: There were no significant intervention-by-time effects on the primary outcome - cannabis frequency (F=0.26, FDRp = .86)-nor on secondary outcomes: quantity, cravings, relaxation or mindfulness.
Conclusion: Based on these findings a brief MBI does not appear to help people with CUD reduce their cannabis use.
Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry Identifier: ISRCTN76056942 (Mapping short-term brain changes in cannabis users). Submission date: 28/04/2020. Registration date: 12/05/2020. The interventions are described below and here: ISRCTN76056942 https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN76056942 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN76056942). The pre-registered hypotheses and analysis plan can be found here: https://osf.io/sfjwk.