Social and Emotional Brain Function in Cannabis Users

Completed

• Conditions: Cannabis Dependence
• Interventions: Other: fMRI

• Registration Number: NCT02711371
• Lead Sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Brief Summary

The aim of this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study is to find out whether and how social and emotional brain function are altered in dependent cannabis users relative to healthy non-using control subjects after a 28 supervised abstinence period. Previous research in cannabis users has predominantly focused on cognitive functions. Moreover, studies have implicated that observed deficits in cannabis users may regenerate after a prolonged abstinence period. Findings might provide important information with respect to relapse vulnerability.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-07
• Study First Submitted: 2016-03-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-03-13
• Study First Posted: 2016-03-17
• Primary Completion: 2016-12
• Study Completion: 2016-12
• Status Verified: 2017-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-02-01
• Last Update Posted: 2017-02-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 43

Inclusion Criteria

• Cannabis dependence according to DSM 4 criteria
• 28 days of supervised abstinence

Exclusion Criteria

• other DSM 4 diagnosis
• neurological disorders

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Cannabis Dependence	fMRI	Cannabis dependent individuals according to DSM 4 criteria, aged 18-40 years
Healthy	fMRI	Healthy controls, socio-demographically matched

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
fMRI neural activation patterns of social-emotional brain processes after 28 day abstinence	one timepoint = fMRI assessment after 28 day abstinence period	Activity patterns in core regions of the emotion processing \& addiction-related brain networks (e.g. striatal regions, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex) will be assessed after 28-days of abstinence. Alterations will be determined by comparison with matched non-drug using controls

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Ratings of subjective experience (pleasantness, rewarding value) will be assessed after 28 days of abstinence	one timepoint = during fMRI assessment after 28 day abstinence period	Self-reported ratings of pleasantness \& rewarding value during soft-pleasant touch.
Relapse interview assessed with Timeline-Followback Method	one timepoint = 24 months post-fMRI-session	Association between fMRI neural correlates and drug use during follow up period as predictor of relapse

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Bonn / Department of Psychiatry; 🇩🇪 Bonn, NRW, Germany