Extended Effects of Cannabis Abstinence on Clinical Symptoms and Cognition in Depression

The prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is \~5.0%, and rates of co-occurring SUDs in these patients approach 40-50%. Specifically, rates of co-morbid cannabis use disorder (CUD) in patients with MDD are elevated 2-3 fold compared to 2.9% in the general population, and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes and impaired cognitive and psychosocial functioning in comparison to MDD patients without CUD. Most studies of cannabis use in MDD are cross-sectional in design, and therefore causal relationships are unclear. This study investigates the effects of cannabis abstinence over a 28-day period in patients with MDD with co-occurring CUD using a randomized controlled design, namely contingent reinforcement.

NCT Number	NCT04935619
Lead Sponsor	Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Conditions	Cannabis Use, Major Depressive Disorder, Cognitive Impairment
Enrollment	52 participants
Start Date	2021-07-21
Primary Completion	2027-06-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-08-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-02-24