Piloting of an Intervention to Reduce Problematic Alcohol Use in Early Phase Psychosis Patients

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Psychosis, Alcohol Use Disorder

In brief

A focus of research for youth and Emerging Adults with early phase psychosis (EPP) has been cannabis use. However, this focus has led to overlooking the possible negative influence of another legal recreational drug, alcohol. Previous studies our research group has done have demonstrated that over use of alcohol reduces the effectiveness of early intervention in psychosis treatment services. These treatment services are wrap around services that address medical, and social needs of young people with psychosis. Individuals with alcohol use disorder and EPP have fewer positive symptoms such as hallucinations which are the aspects of psychotic disorders that respond most readily to medication but have greater levels of depressive symptoms. Biologically, we can see the negative impact of alcohol on brain structure in our MRI studies. Our aim presented in this grant is to pilot a psychosocial intervention using cognitive enhancement therapy to reduce alcohol consumption in individuals with early phase psychosis. This intervention has shown promise in reducing alcohol use in individuals with long standing schizophrenia and compare it to treatment as usual which involves brief (1 session) psychoeducation. The investigators hope to reduce substance use in young people in the early stages of a psychotic disorder and improve their odds of a full recovery. In addition to measuring symptoms and hospitalizations, this trial will measure what are called social determinants of health such as return to school or work and resumption of relationships. These variables have not been measured previously in alcohol use interventions in this population but in our experience are the best indicators of long term recovery from psychosis. The symptoms will generally improve with antipsychotic drug treatment but reach a threshold after 6 months in most individuals who engage with our 5 year program. Further functional and social recovery seem to be the best determinants of a full return to health in this population.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05365347

Run by

Nova Scotia Health Authority

People needed

24

Starts

2022-12-01

Expected to finish

2026-12-30

Last updated by the study team

2024-08-23

Who can join

Age: 16 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• This study will enroll individuals 16-35 years of age from Early Intervention Services for Psychosis in Nova Scotia
• less than 5 years of psychotic illness.
• Individuals will have a psychotic spectrum diagnosis (primary psychotic disorder) that will include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and unspecified schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
• have problematic alcohol use (score of 8 or higher on the World Health Organization Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (WHO-AUDIT))

You may not qualify if…

• presence of another substance use disorder other than nicotine dependence

Where it is running

• Nova Scotia Health Authority — Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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