Helping families talk with young adults with early psychosis about cutting back on cannabis
Talking about Cannabis: Developing an Intervention for Family Members of Young Adults with FEP to Support Reduced Cannabis Use
This project will create and pilot a program to teach families how to support young adults (ages 18–35) with early psychosis to reduce heavy cannabis use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177960 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will develop the Cannabis Conversation Skills for Families (CCSF) program using feedback from focus groups and clinical experts. You and your family would learn practical communication and support skills drawn from motivational interviewing and community reinforcement family training, along with clear information about how cannabis can affect psychosis. The team will pilot the program with families of young adults early in psychotic illness using sessions, role‑plays, and participant feedback to refine the materials. Findings will be used to improve the program and plan a larger trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young adults aged 18–35 with recent-onset psychosis (schizophrenia-spectrum) who use cannabis and their family members willing to take part in training are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People outside the 18–35 age range, those without psychosis, those who do not use cannabis, or families unwilling to engage in the program are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could better support young adults to cut back on cannabis, potentially lowering relapse risk and improving recovery and daily functioning.
How similar studies have performed: The program adapts elements from proven approaches like motivational interviewing and community reinforcement family training, but there is currently no established, effective intervention specifically for young adults with psychosis and heavy cannabis use, so this is a relatively new application.
Where this research is happening
Scottsdale, United States
- Arizona State University-Tempe Campus — Scottsdale, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walker, Denise D — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Walker, Denise D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.