Sex Differences in Attentional Bias in Marijuana-dependent Individuals

NCT ID: NCT01179425

Last Updated: 2011-04-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-08-31
• Study Completion Date: 2011-02-28

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to explore sex differences in cognitive functioning and responses to marijuana-related items, and to determine whether stress impacts these measures.

Hypothesis 1: Attentional bias will be greater for marijuana cues in male marijuana-dependent subjects relative to female marijuana-dependent or non-dependent male controls.

Hypothesis 2: Marijuana-dependent females will exhibit greater stress-induced changes in attentional bias and cognitive functioning than marijuana-dependent males.

Detailed Description

Ample evidence implicates both environmental cues and negative affective states in maintaining drug use or triggering relapse. However, although 'craving' is believed to drive continued drug use, it is not well understood how cognitive processes influence craving and relapse, nor how they may differ between the sexes. Therefore, the goal of this study protocol is to provide insight into sex differences in the cognitive aspects of drug craving and to assess the impact of stress on attentional bias for drug-related cues as well as on the availability of cognitive resources.

Conditions

Marijuana Dependence

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

non-marijuana dependent controls

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Cognitive stressor

Intervention Type: OTHER

The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT-C), has been modified for use as a computerized laboratory-based stressor. Single digits are presented, and the patient must add each new digit to the one immediately prior to it and click on the appropriate answer. Failure to do so in the allotted time results in a noxious error sound.

Marijuana-dependent subjects

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Cognitive stressor

Intervention Type: OTHER

The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT-C), has been modified for use as a computerized laboratory-based stressor. Single digits are presented, and the patient must add each new digit to the one immediately prior to it and click on the appropriate answer. Failure to do so in the allotted time results in a noxious error sound.

Interventions

Cognitive stressor

The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT-C), has been modified for use as a computerized laboratory-based stressor. Single digits are presented, and the patient must add each new digit to the one immediately prior to it and click on the appropriate answer. Failure to do so in the allotted time results in a noxious error sound.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

• Current depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• History of psychosis
• Suicidal or homicidal intent
• Significant cognitive deficits
• Dependence on any substance other than marijuana, nicotine, or caffeine.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Medical University of South Carolina

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Medical University of South Carolina

Principal Investigators

Kimber L Price, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Medical University of South Carolina

Locations

Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Psychiatry/Clinical Neuroscience Division

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

HR# 19292

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id