A proof-of-concept analysis of data from the first NHS clinic for young adults with comorbid cannabis use and psychotic disorders

Marta Di Forti; Benjamin W. Bond; Edoardo Spinazzola; Giulia Trotta; Jodie Lynn; Richard Malkin; Naba Kamran Siddiqui; Sultan Demir; Titilayomi Opadokun; Perry B.M. Leung; Zhikun Li; Andrea Quattrone; Gabriella Baxter; Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi; Tom P. Freeman; Hannah Walsh; Tommaso Squeri; Daria Semikina; Felicity Amberson-Jones; Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman; Tim Meynen; Diego Quattrone; Robin M. Murray

doi:10.1192/bjo.2024.782

BJPsych Open (Jan 2025)

A proof-of-concept analysis of data from the first NHS clinic for young adults with comorbid cannabis use and psychotic disorders

Marta Di Forti,
Benjamin W. Bond,
Edoardo Spinazzola,
Giulia Trotta,
Jodie Lynn,
Richard Malkin,
Naba Kamran Siddiqui,
Sultan Demir,
Titilayomi Opadokun,
Perry B.M. Leung,
Zhikun Li,
Andrea Quattrone,
Gabriella Baxter,
Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi,
Tom P. Freeman,
Hannah Walsh,
Tommaso Squeri,
Daria Semikina,
Felicity Amberson-Jones,
Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman,
Tim Meynen,
Diego Quattrone,
Robin M. Murray

Affiliations

Marta Di Forti: ORCiD; Department of Social Genetics and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Benjamin W. Bond: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Edoardo Spinazzola: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Giulia Trotta: Department of Social Genetics and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Jodie Lynn: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Richard Malkin: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Darlington, UK
Naba Kamran Siddiqui: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Sultan Demir: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Titilayomi Opadokun: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Perry B.M. Leung: ORCiD; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Zhikun Li: Department of Social Genetics and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus King's College London, UK
Andrea Quattrone: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Portugal
Gabriella Baxter: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Tom P. Freeman: Addiction and Mental Health Group University of Bath, UK
Hannah Walsh: Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Tommaso Squeri: ORCiD; GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, UK
Daria Semikina: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Felicity Amberson-Jones: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman: Department of Social Genetics and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Tim Meynen: Department of Social Genetics and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Diego Quattrone: Department of Social Genetics and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK
Robin M. Murray: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Mental Health Trust, London, UK Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.782
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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Background Cannabis use severely affects the outcome of people with psychotic disorders, yet there is a lack of treatments. To address this, in 2019 the National Health Service (NHS) Cannabis Clinic for Psychosis (CCP) was developed to support adults suffering from psychosis to reduce and/or stop their cannabis use. Aims Examine outcome data from the first 46 individuals to complete the CCP's intervention. Method The sample (N = 46) consisted of adults (aged ≥ 18) with psychosis under the care of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, referred to the CCP between January 2020 and February 2023, who completed their intervention by September 2023. Clinical and functional measures were collected before (T0) and after (T1) the CCP intervention (one-to-one sessions and peer group attendance). Primary outcomes were changes in the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R) score and pattern of cannabis use. Secondary outcomes included T0–T1 changes in measures of delusions, paranoia, depression, anxiety and functioning. Results A reduction in the mean CUDIT-R score was observed between T0 (mean difference = 17.10, 95% CI = 15.54–18.67) and T1, with 73.91% of participants achieving abstinence and 26.09% reducing the frequency and potency of their use. Significant improvements in all clinical and functional outcomes were observed, with 90.70% being in work or education at T1 compared with 8.70% at T0. The variance in CUDIT-R scores explained between 34 and 64% of the variance in our secondary measures. Conclusions The CCP intervention is a feasible strategy to support cannabis use cessation/reduction and improve clinical and functional outcomes of people with psychotic disorders.

Published in BJPsych Open

ISSN: 2056-4724 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system: Psychiatry
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open

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