ABCREffects of Action-Based Cognitive Remediation on Substance Misuse in Early Phase Psychosis

Psychotic disorders impact 4.6 people per 1000 globally, with approximately 1.5 million Canadians affected. The age of onset for psychotic disorders often begin during the critical years of youth and early adulthood, resulting in significant challenges for individuals and their families, including difficulties with thinking, relationships, and overall well-being. They also carry significant economic costs, both for health care and lost productivity. Early intervention services have been shown to improve outcomes when provided during the first few years of illness known as early phase psychosis (EPP). However, substance use, especially alcohol and cannabis, can interfere with the effectiveness of these services. Many young people with psychosis misuse these substances, which can harm brain development, worsen symptoms, reduce medication use, and lower quality of life. Despite understanding the risks, there are few effective ways to reduce substance misuse in patients with EPP.

One promising approach to reducing substance misuse in this population is cognitive remediation therapy, which helps improve thinking skills and everyday functioning. Studies have found that some cognitive remediation therapies can help reduce alcohol use in chronic schizophrenia, but there is limited research targeting the EPP population. Our research team at the Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program recently completed a pilot study that indicated a therapy called Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) helped participants reduce their problematic alcohol and cannabis use. However, challenges with recruitment and lower attendance rates noted towards the end of the 6-month therapy course suggests that patients with EPP would benefit more from a therapy with a shorter timeframe. Alternatively, Action-Based Cognitive Remediation (ABCR) targets the same cognitive domains believed to help reduce substance use as CET, but has a shorter, more concise schedule. ABCR cover 16 sessions delivered bi-weekly for 2 months, compared to 45 sessions over 6 months of CET. ABCR has been tested in the EPP population and has shown positive results when delivered in person, hybrid and remotely. Although this therapy is demonstrating benefits for patients including improvement in daily functioning and social cognition, its effects on substance misuse have not been researched. This study aims to investigate whether treatment with ABCR helps patients with EPP reduce their alcohol and/or cannabis use.