Sex Differences in Attentional Bias in Marijuana-dependent Individuals

Medical University of South Carolina40 enrolled

Overview

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.

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 Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Marijuana Dependence

Interventions

Cognitive stressorOTHER

The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT-C), has been modified for use as a computerized laboratory-based stressor. Single digits are presented, and the patient must add each new digit to the one immediately prior to it and click on the appropriate answer. Failure to do so in the allotted time results in a noxious error sound.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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.

Locations (1)

Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Psychiatry/Clinical Neuroscience Division

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

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 (%).

Time frame: ~ 3 hours

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary measures include subjective (craving and stress), physiological (heart rate and skin conductance), and stress hormone level (cortisol) assessments.

Time frame: ~ 3 hours

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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