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Medical Office Intervention for Adolescent Drug Use - Attention Study Supplement

Completed
Conditions
Substance-related Disorders
Registration Number
NCT00593034
Lead Sponsor
Boston Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

This study will use the CCPT II to assess attention in 12-21 year olds enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a brief behavioral treatment for substance abuse.

This study will describe at baseline levels of attention using a well validated instrument (Connors Continuous Performance Test II) and explore the association between attention levels and substance use. The primary study hypothesis is that lower initial levels of substance use (as measured by percent days abstinent) will be associated with higher attention levels. We envision that this data will inform a better understanding of how attention may modify treatment response.

Detailed Description

Research among adolescents with substance use problems presents unique challenges to investigators. Issues with recruitment, confidentiality, and follow-up have been cited as common limitations to research in this area. One likely contributor to decreased treatment persistence and follow-up is the limited ability to sustain attention that many adolescents, especially those with substance problems, may manifest. (Taper, 2002) Thus, assessing attention before beginning substance abuse treatment has the potential not only to inform the science of adolescent addiction medicine, but also to guide the development of therapies to specifically address attention deficits among adolescent substance users. Adolescent outpatients being treated for substance problems have not been systematically studied for clinical or subclinical attention levels.

The primary aims this study are as follows:

1. To test the feasibility of administering the Connors Continuous Performance Test II (CCPT II), a well validated measure of attention, to a sample of 12-21 year old patients receiving treatment for substance abuse.

2. To obtain baseline descriptive statistics on the CCPT II in a previously understudied group of young patients receiving treatment for substance abuse.

3. To estimate the magnitude of the association between substance use and levels of attention at baseline before treatment.

4. To explore the degree to which attention may affect response to substance abuse treatment in general and specifically motivational interviewing.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
42
Inclusion Criteria
  • CRAFFT score of 1 or more
  • Have used cannabis, alcohol or another drug on at least two occasions during the 30 days preceding their visit
  • Can read and understand English
Exclusion Criteria
  • Require immediate hospitalization or referral to residential substance abuse treatment
  • Will not be available to complete the study assessments over the next 9 months.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Score on the Connors Continuous Performance Test II (CCPT II)Baseline
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Percentage of days abstinent6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Children's Hospital Boston

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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