Family Members of Young Adults with Psychosis
Keywords:
Cannabis, psychosis, family, theory of planned behavior, motivational interviewingAbstract
Individuals with frst episode psychosis (FEP) use cannabis at high rates. A family-based
intervention grounded in motivational interviewing (MI) appears promising. Focus
groups (N = 3) were conducted with family members (n = 8) of individuals with FEP.
Questions were developed based on theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify factors
contributing to intentions to utilize MI to address cannabis. Researchers used content
analysis to sort data into TPB constructs and thematic analysis to identify breadth of
themes. Factors decreasing intention to utilize MI included disagreement about cannabis
being “a problem,” having vested interests in cessation, concern about relationship strain,
and lack of accessible data about risks and consequences of use. Strategies to increase
intentions include providing families accessible information about cannabis-psychosis interactions and support to reconcile the following: preference for cessation versus respect
for autonomy, desire to use evocation versus provide information, and the desire to avoid
versus engage in discussion of cannabis.
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