Brain Neurochemical Profile During Marijuana Abstinence

NCT ID: NCT04320537

Last Updated: 2020-03-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 37 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2020-01-31

Brief Summary

We have interviewed more than 120+ candidates and recruited 44 chronic marijuana users and 11 non-user healthy controls: 26 of the 44 MJ users actually participated in the study, 6 of the 26 MJ participants dropped out after their baseline magnetic resonance (MR) visits and the remaining 20 participants completed the study protocol, namely completed three MR visits for measurement of brain metabolites (baseline, day 7, and day 21); among the 11 healthy controls, 10 completed the study protocol. We are currently analyzing collected data and preparing manuscripts for peer reviewed journals.

Detailed Description

Marijuana (MJ) is the most widely used illicit drug in the US among young adults. A majority of those who enter treatment for MJ dependence relapse. However, the mechanism of action of MJ on brain neurochemistry, especially in connection with the reported withdrawal symptoms, is still not well understood. We hypothesized that brain gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (glu) fluctuate during the transition between active exposure, early abstinence (1-2 days since last use), and prolonged abstinence (7 days and more), and an imbalance of GABA and glu during MJ abstinence was the metabolic source of the aforementioned withdrawal symptoms that make MJ abstinence so difficult for many individuals. The investigator's specific aims were to measure MJ abstinence related changes in levels of GABA and glu and to correlate the changes in GABA and glu with MJ withdrawal symptoms and clinical measures at baseline, day 7, and day 21 into abstinence. The MR measures were conducted at 3 tesla and the abstinence was verified by urinary tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels.

Conditions

Brain Metabolic Changes During Marijuana Abstinence

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

MJ user

non-treatment-seeking chronic heavy marijuana (MJ) users of both sexes and all ethnicities between the ages of 21-40 years who are willing to follow the study protocol and abstinence from marijuana for three weeks

abstinence from use of marijuana and other abused drugs

Intervention Type: OTHER

abstinence from use of marijuana use and other abused drugs

Control

age- and sex-matched healthy control participants who are willing to follow the study protocol and remain in the study for three weeks

abstinence from use of marijuana and other abused drugs

Intervention Type: OTHER

abstinence from use of marijuana use and other abused drugs

Interventions

abstinence from use of marijuana and other abused drugs

abstinence from use of marijuana use and other abused drugs

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 1. Participants must be 21-40 years of age. 2. Women must not be pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or lactating. 3. Individuals must meet criteria of chronic, heavy use of marijuana to be enrolled in the group of MJ-users. Namely, participants in this group may, but do not have to, meet DSM-5 criteria for cannabis use disorder based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID-5) and they have to have had at least one years of reported use of four out of seven days per week, or greater than 25 episodes per month. An "episode" is defined as an occasion of smoking separated by at least one hour from another "episode." 4. Participants must be able to comply with the study protocol, willing to remain abstinent during the 3-week period, willing to limit amounts of alcohol and tobacco consumption during the study period, and willing to commit the time to participate in the study. 5. Participants must be able to provide written informed consent. 6. Participants must be able and willing to complete questionnaires during various visits.

Exclusion Criteria

• 1. Individuals with significant and symptomatic medical or neurological co-morbidity, such as chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, or any current Axis I Psychiatric Disorder, severe medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, anemia, cancer, cirrhosis, heart disease, or kidney disease, or history of head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness requiring hospital evaluation. 2. Individuals who have been on atypical antipsychotic medications, sleeping medications, or steroid/testosterone. 3. Individuals must not have been on stimulant medications or antidepressant medications including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), for at least one year. 4. Individuals must not currently hold a medical marijuana certificate. 5. Individuals who, in the Principal Investigator's judgment, will not likely be able to comply with the study protocol. 6. Individuals meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for current substance use disorder other than MJ 7. Individuals who have any lifetime regular use of cocaine, stimulants, or hallucinogens more than twice monthly 8. Individuals who smoke more than 10 tobacco cigarettes daily 9. Individuals who consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day, on average, or report binge drinking (4 or more drinks for women, 5 or more drinks for men).

1. Contraindication to MR scanning, including claustrophobia.

2. Individuals unable to comply with instructions or procedures of study.

3. Presence of metal pins or braces in subject.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Scott E. Lukas, PhD, McLean Hospital

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Mclean Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Chun S. Zuo

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Chun Zuo

Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

2016P001508

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id