Real-Time Mobile Support Reduced Cannabis Cravings More Than Therapy Alone
Young adults with cannabis use disorder who received motivational therapy plus real-time mobile support when triggers occurred showed greater reductions in cannabis temptation and dependence than those receiving therapy alone.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Ecological momentary motivational enhancement therapy (EM-MET) was associated with greater reductions in cannabis temptation (Partial eta-squared = 0.35, P < 0.001) and dependence severity (Partial eta-squared = 0.24, P < 0.001) compared to standard motivational enhancement therapy alone.
Key Numbers
Temptation reduction: F = 37.09, Partial eta-squared = 0.35, P < 0.001. Dependence severity reduction: Partial eta-squared = 0.24, P < 0.001. 70 participants total across three treatment centers.
How They Did This
Multicenter single-blinded RCT in Tehran, Iran. 70 young adults with cannabis use disorder randomized to EM-MET (n=35) or MET alone (n=35). EM-MET added two weeks of ecological momentary assessment with therapist phone calls triggered by reported cannabis use triggers.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use disorder has limited evidence-based treatments. This study shows that adding real-time mobile-triggered support to standard therapy meaningfully improves outcomes.
The Bigger Picture
Mobile-based interventions can extend therapy beyond the clinic into the moments when people are most vulnerable to relapse. This approach could be adapted for other substance use disorders.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample size (70 total). Conducted in Iran, which may limit generalizability to other cultural contexts. Only the data analyst was blinded. Short follow-up period.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would automated mobile support (without therapist calls) be equally effective?
- ?How long do the benefits persist after the intervention ends?
- ?Can this approach be scaled in under-resourced settings?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Large effect size (eta-squared = 0.35) for temptation reduction with mobile-augmented therapy
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized controlled trial with significant effect sizes; moderate because of small sample and single-blinded design.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication of a 2023 trial
- Original Title:
- 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.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 277, 112957 (2025)
- Authors:
- Darharaj, Mohammad, Roshanpajouh, Mohsen, Amini, Mahdi, Shrier, Lydia A, Hamraz, Iman, Habibi Asgarabad, Mojtaba
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06296
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is ecological momentary assessment?
A method where participants report their experiences (like cravings or triggers) in real-time through a mobile device. In this study, reporting a trigger automatically connected the participant with a therapist for immediate support.
Is this treatment available?
This was a research trial and the specific EM-MET protocol is not yet widely available. However, the principle of mobile-augmented therapy is being explored in multiple substance use treatment contexts.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06296APA
Darharaj, Mohammad; Roshanpajouh, Mohsen; Amini, Mahdi; Shrier, Lydia A; Hamraz, Iman; Habibi Asgarabad, Mojtaba. (2025). 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.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 277, 112957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112957
MLA
Darharaj, Mohammad, et al. "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.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112957
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Effect of mobile-based ecological momentary motivational enh..." RTHC-06296. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/darharaj-2025-effect-of-mobilebased-ecological
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.