Nine sessions of therapy cut cannabis use more than two sessions did
HelpedThe short version
People who had nine sessions cut the days they used cannabis more than people who waited.
- 450
- adults dependent on cannabis
- Randomised
- groups picked at random
- Self-rated
- people rated themselves
- 3 tools
- tested
The study
Who took part
450 adults who were dependent on cannabis took part. Their average age was 36, and about two-thirds were men; they came from three sites in Connecticut, Florida and Washington state.
What they did
Some people had two one-hour sessions that helped them find their own reasons to change. Others had nine sessions over 12 weeks, which added therapy that challenges unhelpful thoughts and help with housing, jobs and legal problems. A third group waited four months before choosing a treatment.
What happened
After four months, the days people used cannabis had fallen by about 59% in the nine-session group. The two-session group's days fell by about 36% and the waiting group's by about 16%. At 15 months, the nine-session group used cannabis on about 45% of days, against 54%: a small gap.
What the study found
- Helped
People who had nine sessions cut the days they used cannabis more than people who waited.
- Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
- Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
- Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested
- Rule: With a coach or therapistused
Randomised trial of 450 adults dependent on cannabis · vs people who waited four months for treatment · they rated themselves
- Helped
Two sessions aimed at motivation cut the days people used cannabis more than waiting did.
- Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
- Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested
- Rule: With a coach or therapistused
Randomised trial of 450 adults dependent on cannabis · vs people who waited four months for treatment · they rated themselves
- Helped
People who had nine sessions cut the days they used cannabis more than people who had two.
- Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested
- Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingused
- Rule: Get feedback on your progressused
- Rule: With a coach or therapistused
Randomised trial of 450 adults dependent on cannabis · vs people who had two motivation-focused sessions · they rated themselves
How solid is this?
- Groups picked at random
- People rated themselves
Source
Brief Treatments for Cannabis Dependence: Findings From a Randomized Multisite Trial (2004)
DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.72.3.455 (opens in a new tab)
