# Endocannabinoid System Research: Cannabis in Mental Health Care > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-cannabis-mental-health-research/ > **Published:** 2026-04-15T13:58:00-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:01:34-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore endocannabinoid system cannabis mental health research and its role in advancing care through clinical studies and digital interventions. --- #### Clinical Takeaway A randomized controlled trial tested the Minder mobile app, co-developed with university students, to address mental health and substance use challenges during the college transition period. The study evaluated whether this digital intervention could meaningfully improve outcomes in a general university population. Digital tools like Minder are being studied as scalable options for reaching students who may not access traditional campus mental health services. ### #7 Effectiveness of the Minder Mobile Mental Health and Substance Use Intervention for University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial. **Citation:** Vereschagin Melissa et al. *Effectiveness of the Minder Mobile Mental Health and Substance Use Intervention for University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial.* Journal of medical Internet research. 2024. PMID: 38536225. **Study type:** Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t  |  **Topic area:** Anxiety & PTSD  |  **CED Score:** 12 Design: 5 Journal: 0 N: 3 Recency: 1 Pop: 2 Human: 1 Risk: 0 **Abstract:** BACKGROUND: University attendance represents a transition period for students that often coincides with the emergence of mental health and substance use challenges. Digital interventions have been identified as a promising means of supporting students due to their scalability, adaptability, and acceptability. Minder is a mental health and substance use mobile app that was codeveloped with university students. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Minder mobile app in improving mental health and substance use outcomes in a general population of university students. METHODS: A 2-arm, parallel-assignment, single-blinded, 30-day randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate Minder using intention-to-treat analysis. In total, 1489 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=743, 49.9%) or waitlist control (n=746, 50.1%) condition. The Minder app delivers evidence-based content through an automated chatbot and connects participants with services and university social groups. Participants are also assigned a trained peer coach to support them. The primary outcomes were measured through in-app self-assessments and included changes in general anxiety symptomology, depressive symptomology, and alcohol consumption risk measured using the 7-item General [Anxiety Disorder](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-adolescent-psychiatric-risk-data-study/) scale, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and US Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption Scale, respectively, from baseline to 30-day follow-up. Secondary outcomes included measures related to changes in the frequency of substance use (cannabis, alcohol, opioids, and nonmedical stimulants) and mental well-being. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to examine each outcome. RESULTS: In total, 79.3% (589/743) of participants in the intervention group and 83% (619/746) of participants in the control group completed the follow-up survey. The intervention group had significantly greater average reductions in anxiety symptoms measure  |   |  [View on PubMed ↗](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38536225/)[Full Text ↗](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11007604/)[DOI ↗](https://doi.org/10.2196/54287) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. 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