Psychosocial Support for Nitrous Oxide Misuse

NCT07716293 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 372842G-003172
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas, N₂O) is the third most commonly used recreational drug among young people in the UK. Although it may seem harmless, frequent use can damage the nerves and spinal cord. Vitamin B12 injections can help treat these neurological complications, but continued N₂O use can reduce how effective this treatment is. Some people use N₂O to cope with stress or emotional difficulties, while others may find it hard to stop because of cravings or habits. These emotional and social difficulties can negatively affect recovery, wellbeing, and quality of life. Our team has developed a new brief support programme for people experiencing mild to moderate emotional and social difficulties related to N₂O use. The programme provides information and practical strategies to help people cope, manage emotions, and prevent problems from worsening. It is delivered by a trained facilitator over up to four weekly sessions, either in-person or remotely. In this study, the support programme will be introduced to patients attending the Royal London Hospital clinic for N₂O related neurological harms. Ten participants will receive the programme alongside their usual care. Participants will complete questionnaires before and after the programme to monitor mental health, quality of life, and dependence on N₂O. The research team will evaluate whether the programme was delivered as intended and whether participants remained engaged. Participants will be invited to take part in an interview to feedback on their experiences and suggest improvements before the programme is tested in a larger study. Participation will last up to 8 hours in total over approximately 9 weeks.

Conditions

Brief Psychosocial Intervention

Keywords

Feasibility study; Mixed methods; Nitrous oxide; Psychological intervention; Addiction and dependence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Feasibility response rate

  Response rates

  12 months

• Feasibility uptake

  Study uptake

  12 months

• Feasibility drop out

  Drop outs and completion

  12 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Fidelity accuracy

  12 months

• Fidelity quality

  12 months

• Acceptability

  12 months

Study Arms (1)

Psychosocial intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

A brief manualised psychosocial intervention comprising information provision, psychoeducation, goal setting, coping strategies, self-management strategies, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques (Inc. Mindfulness, cognitive reframing). The intervention will be tailored to individual needs, informed by questionnaire results, goal setting, homework activities, and open discussion.

Behavioral: Psychosocial intervention

Interventions

Psychosocial intervention BEHAVIORAL

A brief manualised psychosocial intervention comprising information provision, psychoeducation, goal setting, coping strategies, self-management strategies, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques (Inc. Mindfulness, cognitive reframing). The intervention will be tailored to individual needs, informed by questionnaire results, goal setting, homework activities, and open discussion.

Psychosocial intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Confirmed clinical neurological diagnosis related to N₂O use.
• Experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress.
• Aged 16-65 years.
• Able to communicate in English.
• Able and willing to give informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Other causes of neurological symptoms.
• Currently receiving another structured psychosocial intervention.
• Severe psychiatric distress.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Queen Mary University of London: lead

Study Sites (1)

Queen Mary University of London

London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Behavior, Addictive

Interventions

Psychosocial Intervention

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Central Study Contacts

Laura Smith, PhD, PGCHE, MSc, BSc

CONTACT

+447842885047; l.j.smith@qmul.ac.uk

Alastair Noyce

CONTACT

A.J.Noyce@qmul.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: A brief manualised psychosocial intervention comprising information provision, psychoeducation, goal setting, coping strategies, self-management strategies, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques (Inc. Mindfulness, cognitive reframing). The intervention will be tailored to individual needs, informed by questionnaire results, goal setting, homework activities, and open discussion.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 1, 2026
• First Posted: July 21, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 14, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 13, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 13, 2027
• Last Updated: July 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)