Cannabis and Processing Emotions Study

ConditionCannabis Use Disorder, Severe

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age18-50

SponsorAuburn University

About this trial

The goal of this study is to test a causal neural mechanism of cannabis use-related problem recognition in individuals with severe cannabis use disorder using a non-invasive form of neuromodulation called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The main question it aims to answer is:

-Does manipulating neural activity in the medial orbitofrontal cortex of the brain affect cannabis use-related problem recognition?

Researchers will compare three forms of theta burst stimulation (TBS; sham, intermittent, and continuous) in each participant to see if manipulations in neural activity lead to changes in cannabis use-related problem recognition.

Participants will complete a screening interview about their mental health and substance use history and complete four in-person laboratory sessions, which involve questionnaires, four brief magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, three TBS sessions, and three electroencephalogram (EEG) sessions. Participants will also be asked to provide urine samples and take saliva and/or breathalyzer tests at some of the lab visits.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Meets criteria for current, severe Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) during the screening interview

Reports engagement in cannabis use at least four days per week, on average, over the past year

Provide a urine sample positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Able to read and write in English

Disqualifiers

Other non-cannabis illicit substance use more than once per month, on average, over the past year

Current DSM-5 moderate or severe Alcohol Use Disorder, as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) during the screening interview

History of bipolar I or psychosis spectrum disorders, as assessed by the SCID for DSM-5 during the screening interview

Acute suicidality requiring treatment escalation, as assessed during the screening interview

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

TMS - Sham
TMS - Active iTBS
TMS - Active cTBS

Treatment groups

24 Participants

are divided into 3 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Auburn University

Lead sponsor

Society of Addiction Psychology

Collaborator

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov