Assessing Patients with Alcohol and Cannabis Use Disorders

Phenotyping Patients With Alcohol and Cannabis Use Disorders Using the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment

This study is testing how a 12-week therapy program can help people with alcohol and cannabis use disorders by looking at how their thinking and feelings before treatment relate to their progress during therapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 400 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Toronto, Ontario)
• Trial ID: NCT05855668 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study recruits participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) to undergo a 12-week cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program. Prior to treatment, participants will complete thorough assessments based on the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA) model, which evaluates executive function, incentive salience, and negative emotionality. The goal is to determine how these baseline measures correlate with changes in substance use and cravings during treatment. This approach aims to enhance understanding of individual responses to addiction therapies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who meet DSM-5 criteria for either alcohol or cannabis use disorder and are willing to participate in group psychotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with active suicidal ideation or unstable psychiatric or medical conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for individuals with alcohol and cannabis use disorders.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on addiction treatments, this specific approach using the ANA model for personalized treatment has not been tested prospectively.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient has been referred to or intends to participate in either the AUD or CUD Integrated Care Pathway (and is therefore willing to participate in group psychotherapy).
2. Able to communicate and provide informed consent in English.
3. 18 years of age or older.
4. Willing and able to safely abstain from substances (other than nicotine or tobacco products), including alcohol and cannabis, for 12 hours prior to the eligibility and task-based assessments.
5. Meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for AUD (AUD group) or CUD (CUD group)
6. Meets criteria for risky drinking, defined as \> 10 drinks per week for females and \> 15 drinks per week for males on average over the past 30 days (AUD group) or daily or near-daily cannabis use over the past 30 days, defined as ≥ 4 days of cannabis use per week on average (CUD group)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active suicidal ideation at time of assessment.
2. Suicide attempt within the past month.
3. Unstable psychiatric or medical status (e.g., acute psychosis or mania) or unstable use of another substance that may interfere with participation in groups (e.g. active fentanyl use).
4. Enrollment in another study that conflicts with the procedures or scientific integrity of this study.
5. Individuals planning to be out of the province for a substantial amount of time during the treatment period will not be permitted to enroll.

Where this trial is running

Toronto, Ontario

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Matthew Sloan, MD — Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Study coordinator: Kelly Xiao, MSc

Conditions Alcohol Use Disorder; Cannabis Use Disorder