Sex Differences in Attentional Bias in Marijuana-dependent Individuals

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Marijuana Dependence
• Interventions: Other: Cognitive stressor

• Registration Number: NCT01179425
• Lead Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-08
• Study First Submitted: 2009-11-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-08-10
• Study First Posted: 2010-08-11
• Primary Completion: 2011-02
• Study Completion: 2011-02
• Status Verified: 2011-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-04-13
• Last Update Posted: 2011-04-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• Inclusion criteria will include subjects between the ages of 18-65 who meet full DSM-IV criteria for marijuana dependence and non-dependent controls.

Exclusion Criteria

• Exclusion criteria will include medications that may affect cognitive or HPA-axis functioning
• 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.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
non-marijuana dependent controls	Cognitive stressor	-
Marijuana-dependent subjects	Cognitive stressor	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Primary outcome measures will be obtained from the auditory odd-ball task: differences while viewing the marijuana vs neutral video in reaction time (msec), errors of omission (%), and errors of commission (%).	~ 3 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Secondary measures include subjective (craving and stress), physiological (heart rate and skin conductance), and stress hormone level (cortisol) assessments.	~ 3 hours

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Psychiatry/Clinical Neuroscience Division; 🇺🇸 Charleston, South Carolina, United States