A Brief Cannabis Use Psychoeducation Intervention for Eating Disorder Patients

A Brief Psychoeducation Intervention to Address Cannabis Use Amongst Patients Seeking Eating Disorder Treatment: A Single Blind Randomized Control Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if providing eating disorder patients with education about the consequences of cannabis (marijuana) use on mental health, gastrointestinal symptoms, eating disorder symptoms, and eating disorder treatment effectiveness increases their knowledge about the cannabis use consequences, intention to reduce cannabis use, and motivation to seek treatment for their cannabis use. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Does education about consequences of cannabis use increase eating disorder patients' knowledge about the risks of cannabis use?
2. Does education about the consequences of cannabis use increase intention to reduce cannabis use and seek cannabis use treatment among those with eating disorders?
3. Does cannabis use interfere with how successful eating disorder treatment is for eating disorder patients?

All participants will receive 20 weeks of eating disorder treatment. In week 1 of treatment, participants will either be assigned to receive education about cannabis use consequences, or be assigned to a control condition where they receive education about consequences of poor sleep. Participants will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires that measure knowledge about cannabis use consequences, intention to reduce use and seek cannabis use treatment, eating disorder symptoms, and cannabis use habits. Researchers will assess how effective providing education about cannabis use consequences is on changing knowledge about cannabis use risks, intention to reduce use, and intention to seek cannabis use treatment. It will also be examined if effectiveness of eating disorder treatment is related to cannabis use habits.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A patient of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Eating Disorder Program (i.e. is currently seeking eating disorders treatment)
• Participant has been diagnosed with an eating disorder
• Aged 16+
• Understands written and spoken English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has not been diagnosed with an eating disorder
• Under the age of 17
• Does not understand written and spoken English