MedPath

Neural and Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabis Use in Adolescents

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Cannabis Use
Depression
Registration Number
NCT06941298
Lead Sponsor
University of Miami
Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of cannabis on brain function among adolescents with depression.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
280
Inclusion Criteria

Cannabis users 1) the study team will require majority of adolescents with cannabis use to have a significant cannabis use (self-reported use on ≥15 of the prior 30 days and positive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) urine toxicology).

Depression Positive

  1. participants with subthreshold depression, defined as a raw severity score of ≥30 on the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R, for ages 14-17) and as a raw severity score of ≥12 on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS, for ages 18-20)
Exclusion Criteria
  1. MRI contraindications such as claustrophobia, metallic ink tattoos, orthodontic braces, or pacemakers
  2. positive pregnancy tests
  3. neurological illnesses and medical conditions such as unique pain syndromes (e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis)
  4. estimated full-scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) ≤80 to ensure that participants have the ability to understand the study112
  5. current Substance Use Disorder (SUD) other than cannabis or nicotine.
  6. certified for or self-reported medical cannabis use, or intent to become certified
  7. current stimulant use (methamphetamine or cocaine) by self-report or urine toxicology
  8. oral contraceptives will be allowed and controlled for in order to maximize recruitment of older adolescents.

Depressed THC non-users:

  1. psychotropic medication-free for >1 month (or >3 months for medications with a long half- life such as fluoxetine) prior to study enrollment.
  2. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) diagnoses of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum all non-cannabis substance-related disorders will be exclusionary.
  3. Self-injurious acts (e.g. cutting) and suicidal ideations (SI) without a specific as passive SI) are common in adolescent depression and will be allowed. constitutes an imminent risk to self or others (defined as active SI), the withdrawn from the study and emergency procedures will be initiated immediately,

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Depression Severity measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)Up to 3 years

Scores range from 0-63 with a higher score indicating higher depression severity

Anhedonia Severity measured by the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS)Up to 3 years

Scores range from 18-108 with a higher score indicating higher Anhedonia severity

Cannabis Use measured by the Daily Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use (DFAQCU) InventoryUp to 3 years

Scores range from 1-15 with a higher score indicating more Cannabis Use

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Depression Severity measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)Up to 3 years

Scores range from 0-60 with a higher score indicating higher depression severity

Depression Severity measured by the Convergence of Children's Depression Rating Scale-revised (CDRSR)Up to 3 years

Scores range from 17-113 with a higher score indicating higher depression severity

Anhedonia Severity measured by the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)Up to 3 years

Scores range from 0-14 with a higher score indicating higher Anhedonia severity

Cannabis Use measured by the Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT)Up to 3 years

Scores range from 0-18 with a higher score indicating more Cannabis Use

Cannabis Use measured by a quantitative cannabinoid metabolites urine analysisUp to 3 years

will be measured in microgram per liter

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of Miami Clinical Research Building

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

Nathan Kline Institute

🇺🇸

Orangeburg, New York, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath