Randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a contingency management intervention for reduction of cannabis use and of relapse in early psychosis | C4C

We propose to adopt a new approach that is increasingly advocated in the substance misuse field as having a strong evidence base, but that has been studied little among people with psychosis. This new approach is called Contingency Management (CM), and involves rewarding positive behaviours: here this will mean giving vouchers for use in a local shop as rewards for attending appointments and for giving cannabis free urines. In our study, we will let chance decide whether willing participants enter a group who are offered CM or a comparison group who do not receive it. Both groups will receive educational sessions from their care coordinators intended to ensure they are aware of risks and benefits of continuing cannabis use. We will compare the progress of the group who receive CM with those who do not, measured by relapse, cannabis use, ability to work and function in society, and symptoms.