Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41547862›Full record

ArticleJournal of cannabis research2026

Evidence-based therapist guided introduction to online heavy cannabis use treatment in Canadian adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).

Karli K Rysen, Julian M Carusone, Jeffrey D Wardell, Michael P Schaub, Andreas Wenger, Harold Wallbridge, Jason D Edgerton, Richard Kruk, Corey S Mackenzie, Matthew T Keough

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cannabis research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04965012 (Testing the Efficacy of an Online Evidence-Based Treatment for Heavy Cannabis Use in Canadian Adults), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04965012 nacompletednot on this map

Testing the Efficacy of an Online Evidence-Based Treatment for Heavy Cannabis Use in Canadian Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

TypeinterventionalSponsorYork UniversityRan2022 to 2023Enrolled152ConditionsMarijuana Use, Marijuana DependenceArmsOnline CBT with MET treatment, CBT without MET treatment
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Karli K RysenDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada. rapindak@myumanitoba.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4771-0400
Julian M CarusoneDepartment of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Jeffrey D WardellDepartment of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Michael P SchaubSwiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Andreas WengerSwiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Harold WallbridgeDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
Jason D EdgertonDepartment of Sociology and Criminology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Richard KrukDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
Corey S MackenzieDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
Matthew T KeoughDepartment of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany people who engage in heavy cannabis use do not seek treatment, and those who do are often met with long treatment wait times or high cost of services. Online treatment programs reduce barriers to accessing treatment in a timely manner. Online cannabis use treatment programs are effective, showing moderate effect sizes, particularly with text-based therapist support. Literature suggests brief therapist-guided introductions (i.e., self-completed interventions offered with the support of a therapist) informed by Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) may help to bolster and maintain program gains. The current evaluation of MET-informed therapist-guided introduction was conducted with a sample of Canadians who report heavy cannabis use, using a new Canadian version of CANreduce, an online treatment program for heavy cannabis use.

methodThe intervention was pre-registered on clinicaltrials.gov for traceability (ID: NCT04965012). Participants (N = 152) were randomized into one of three conditions: MET-therapist guided introduction plus 6-week, online, self-guided treatment program; non-MET research assistant introduction plus 6-week, online, self-guided treatment program; or a psychoeducational control condition. Module content to reduce cannabis use was informed by cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing approaches. Participants completed assessments at baseline, end of treatment (i.e., 6 weeks), and at follow up (i.e., 10 weeks). Data were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations.

resultsAll participants reduced their cannabis consumption frequency (use days in the past week), as well as cannabis-related problems, at end of treatment and follow up. Participants in the MET-therapist condition showed significantly greater reductions in quantity of cannabis used over time compared to the waitlist control. Participants in the non-MET research assistant condition showed significantly greater reductions in cannabis problems compared to waitlist control. There were no significant differences between MET-therapist guided conditions and non-MET research assistant conditions. There was no significant effect of condition on cannabis consumption days in the past week, anxiety, depression or quality of life.

conclusionThe present study provides preliminary support for the CANreduce program in addition to the MET-therapist guided introduction.

Indexed as

Cannabis useCognitive behavioural therapyMinimally guidedMotivational enhancement therapyMotivational interviewingOnline

Identifiers

PMID41547862
PMCPMC12896346

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.