Very Few Technology-Based Interventions Exist to Reduce Cannabis Use in People with Psychosis

Only 3 studies met inclusion criteria from 5,083 screened records. Two quantitative studies showed promising results for internet or VR-based interventions incorporating CBT, motivational interviewing, and psychoeducation on cannabis use frequency and quantity. One qualitative study explored patient and clinician perspectives on using technology for cannabis interventions. Total across original review and update: only 11 peer-reviewed articles.

Systematic review update searching Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and EMB Reviews for studies indexed November 2019 to July 2023. PRISMA guidelines. Narrative synthesis of retained studies.

Cannabis use is highly prevalent in people with psychotic disorders and worsens outcomes. Despite the explosion of digital mental health tools, this population has been almost entirely neglected by technology-based intervention developers.

The gap between the rapidly expanding mobile-health landscape and the near-total absence of tools for this high-risk population is striking. People with psychosis who use cannabis often have difficulty accessing traditional in-person treatment, making technology-based solutions potentially transformative.

Very small evidence base (3 new studies). Heterogeneous interventions make comparison difficult. Qualitative and pilot studies do not establish efficacy. Publication bias likely.