Effect of mobile-based ecological momentary motivational enhancement therapy on cannabis use temptation and dependence severity among Iranian young adults with cannabis use disorder: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of Ecological Momentary Motivational Enhancement Therapy (EM-MET) on cannabis use temptation and dependence severity among young adults with Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). Multicenter single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two equal-sized parallel groups, in which only the data analyst was blinded (see Fig. 1). Participants were recruited from three substance use treatment centers in Tehran, Iran, between February 25, 2023, and October 31, 2023. Participants with CUD randomly assigned to either the EM-MET (n = 35) or MET group (n = 35). In EM-MET, four individual sessions of face-to-face MET (twice a week) were followed by two weeks of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) of cannabis use and its triggers. When a cannabis use trigger was reported, a therapist delivered EM-MET by telephone call through an emergency helpline. Patients in the MET group received the four MET sessions only. Primary outcomes were self-reported temptation on the Self-efficacy and Temptation Scale and dependence severity on the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire. Compared to MET alone, EM-MET was associated with greater reductions in cannabis use temptation (F = 37.09, Partial η² =.35, p < .001) and dependence severity (F = 19.66, Partial η² =.24, p < .001). EM-MET appears to be a feasible and promising intervention for reducing cannabis use temptation and dependence severity among young adults with CUD. This trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on 21 February 2023. Registry No. IRCT20221224056908N1.