Impulsivity and Stimulant Administration

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Cocaine Dependence; Impulsivity
• Interventions: Drug: cocaine hydrochloride; Drug: methylphenidate

• Registration Number: NCT01978431
• Lead Sponsor: Yale University

Brief Summary

Examine the interaction between stimulants, such as cocaine and methylphenidate, and impulsivity.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-11
• Study First Submitted: 2013-10-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-10-31
• Study First Posted: 2013-11-07
• Primary Completion: 2014-05
• Study Completion: 2014-05
• Status Verified: 2023-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-02-14
• Last Update Posted: 2023-02-16

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 29

Inclusion Criteria

1. age 18 - 50 years,
2. voluntary, written, informed consent,
3. physically healthy by medical history, physical, neurological, ECG, and laboratory examinations,
4. DSM-IV criteria for Cocaine Abuse (305.60) or Cocaine Dependence (304.20)
5. recent street cocaine use in excess of amounts to be administered in the current study,
6. intravenous and/or smoked (crack/ freebase) use,
7. positive urine toxicology screen for cocaine,
8. for females, non-lactating, no longer of child-bearing potential (or agree to practice effective contraception during the study), and a negative serum pregnancy (β-HCG) test.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Other drug dependence (except nicotine) as determined by urine toxicology or interview
2. < 1 year of cocaine dependence,
3. a primary major DSM-IV psychiatric diagnosis (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.), unrelated to cocaine,
4. a history of significant medical (cardiovascular) or neurological illness, ie prior myocardial infarction, current active symptoms of cardiovascular disease / angina, evidence of cocaine-related cardiovascular symptoms, prior arrhythmias or need for cardiovascular resuscitation, neurovascular events such as transient ischemic attacks, stroke, and/or seizures Parameters re: elevations in vital signs are now explicitly specified under "Safety features built into our one-day self-administration paradigm).
5. current use of psychotropic and/or potentially psychoactive prescription medication,
6. seeking treatment for drug abuse/dependence (for experimental cocaine component),
7. physical or laboratory (β-HCG) evidence of pregnancy.
8. current use of any medication (prescription or over-the-counter) determined to cause potential drug interactions by the study physicians.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Stimulant	cocaine hydrochloride	Cocaine and Methylphenidate
Placebo	methylphenidate	methylphenidate
Stimulant	methylphenidate	Cocaine and Methylphenidate

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mean cocaine inter-infusion interval	3 hours	Subjects complete three separate 60 minute long "binge" cocaine self administration sessions (low dose 8mg/70kg, medium dose 16mg/70kg, and large dose 32mg/70kg). Mean inter-infusion intervals (time between cocaine boluses) are then averaged by adding all intervals within each session and dividing by 60. Intervals during which pump access is withheld (due to increase in vital signs) will be excluded. Data on cocaine self-administration (total number of responses, infusions, and III), subjective effects, and vital signs will be checked for normality prior to analysis using Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistics and normal probability plots. The significance level for all statistical tests will be set at p\<.05.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Stop Signal Reaction Time (Impulsivity)	5 years	The Dependent measures pertinent to the effects of an acute/chronic exposure to stimulants (methylphenidate/cocaine) on measures of impulsivity will be analyzed using a mixed design ANOVA. This design will have a within subjects variable to study the effects of an acute exposure to stimulants (methylphenidate vs. placebo) and a between subjects variable to study the effects of a chronic exposure to stimulants (cocaine dependent subjects vs. healthy controls).
Inter-Temporal Choice (Impulsivity)	5 years	The Dependent measures pertinent to the effects of an acute/chronic exposure to stimulants (methylphenidate/cocaine) on measures of impulsivity will be analyzed using a mixed design ANOVA. This design will have a within subjects variable to study the effects of an acute exposure to stimulants (methylphenidate vs. placebo) and a between subjects variable to study the effects of a chronic exposure to stimulants (cocaine dependent subjects vs. healthy controls).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Connecticut Mental Health Center; 🇺🇸 New Haven, Connecticut, United States