Breathwork-assisted Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT05219825

Elias Dakwar10 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this proof-of-concept study is to evaluate the safety, feasibility and acceptability of a breathwork workshop intervention in individuals with cannabis use disorder.

This study will test a 1-week breathwork workshop for treatment-seeking adults with a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder. The intervention consists of an enhanced breathing session with evocative music to facilitate experiencing non-ordinary states of consciousness, in addition to brief therapeutic interventions based on Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention (MBRP). The primary aim is to test the acceptability, feasibility and safety of enhanced breathwork in a therapeutic framework for cannabis use disorder. In addition, the investigators seek to understand the phenomenology of breathwork that may explain any change related to addictive behaviors, as well as biological changes that occur during the breathwork session through heart rate variability and electroencephalography.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Addiction Substance Abuse Cannabis Use Disorder Cannabis Use Cannabis Dependence Cannabis Abuse

Interventions

Breathwork workshopBEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete 1.5 hours of breathwork session in addition to a total of 6 hours of brief psychotherapeutic intervention in a span of 1 week. The therapy sessions will occur both before and after the breathing session.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18-70 years of age * Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) criteria for active cannabis use disorder. * Seeking treatment for their cannabis use Exclusion Criteria: * Meets DSM-V criteria for schizophrenia or any psychotic illness or any dissociative disorder (Dissociative identity disorder, Dissociative amnesia, Depersonalization/derealization disorder). * Active substance use disorder except for cannabis, nicotine, and caffeine. * History of severe withdrawal symptoms (i.e withdrawal seizures). * History of dementia, epilepsy or seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, pacemaker/defibrillator, heart failure, asthma, panic disorder and other respiratory illnesses (ie: COPD).

Locations (1)

New York State Psychiatric Institute

New York, New York, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Acceptability of the breathwork session

Acceptability of the breathwork intervention through self-reported questionnaires.

Time frame: One week after the breathing session.

Safety of the breathing session

Occurrence of adverse effects through a self-reported questionnaire.

Time frame: 24 hours after the breathing session.

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Cue Reactivity

Serial visual analogue scale for craving elicited by cannabis use.

Time frame: From baseline to 1 month after the breathing session.

Change in Motivation to Quit

Measured with the "Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale."

Time frame: From baseline to 1 month after the breathing session.

Change in cannabis use

Changes in cannabis use as measured by the Timeline Followback.

Time frame: From baseline to 1 month after the breathing session.

Phenomenology of breathwork #1

Subjective experiences during the breathing session will be assessed with the 30-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire.

Time frame: 24 hours after the breathing session

Phenomenology of breathwork #2

Subjective experiences during the breathing session will be assessed with the Emotional Breakthrough Inventory.

Time frame: Obtained 24 hours after the breathing session

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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