Purpose: Cannabis Use Disorders are associated with a quadrupling of the risk of developing depression, and the use of cannabis to alleviate depressive symptoms is increasingly widespread. Despite high rates of cannabis use among individuals with affective disorders, those who suffer from depression do not frequently access traditional treatment. Our prior work has demonstrated that a technology- and social media-assisted intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and social media support via Facebook showed promise in changing cannabis use and mood symptoms among depressed individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD). The current project examined alcohol co-use and anxiety in this population, effectiveness of this approach in changing drinking behaviors and anxiety, and perceived helpfulness of the intervention. Methods: In a 10-week pilot intervention study, adults (N=20) with CUD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) received an intervention combining computer-assisted CBT/MET targeting depression and cannabis use with peer and therapist support via Facebook, Connected Cannabis Users’ Network for Enhancement of Cognitive Therapy (CONNECT). Self-reported past 30 day alcohol and cannabis use was assessed using a calendar-assisted timeline follow back interview at baseline and treatment-end. Anxiety was measured using the GAD-7. Perceived helpfulness of the intervention was evaluated qualitatively in individual participant interviews. Results: From baseline to treatment-end, CONNECT participants reduced the frequency of both cannabis use (M=24 vs. 8.9 days, p<0.05) and heavy alcohol use (M=1.7 vs. 0.4 days, p<0.05). Anxiety also declined over the course of treatment (M=5.4 vs. 3.2, p<0.05). More than half (57%) of CONNECT participants reported the social media intervention was helpful for their mood as well as cannabis use, and 72% indicated that they would recommend it to a friend. Qualitative data indicate that CONNECT was most helpful in 3 core areas: (1) social support/not feeling alone with their problems, (2) CBT skills training, (3) bolstering motivation to change substance use. Conclusion: Combining technology-assisted and social media interventions may be an effective strategy for populations struggling with concurrent depression and CUD. Beyond primary outcome variables (i.e., depression and cannabis use), participants also reported reductions in heavy alcohol use and anxiety, indicating that this intervention may effectively produce transdiagnostic process changes. In light of the growing demand for telemedicine and digital health interventions in the wake of COVID-19, further research and potential dissemination of this approach appears warranted.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.