The overall purpose of this study is to determine whether a family history of psychosis is associated with an altered cannabinoid system. This will be tested by studying individuals with and without a family history of psychosis and comparing their responses to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a probe of the cannabinoid system. We hypothesize, that compared to controls with no family history of psychoses, individuals with a family history of psychoses will have an altered response to THC.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
21
placebo
Subjects will receive 0.010mg/kg.
Subjects will receive 0.018 mg/kg over 20 minutes.
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Positive and Negative Symptom Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS)
Positive, negative and general symptoms will be assessed using the positive, negative and general symptoms subscales of the PANSS.
Time frame: -30 min from administration of THC
Positive and Negative Symptom Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS)
Positive, negative and general symptoms will be assessed using the positive, negative and general symptoms subscales of the PANSS.
Time frame: +80 min from administration of THC
Positive and Negative Symptom Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS)
Positive, negative and general symptoms will be assessed using the positive, negative and general symptoms subscales of the PANSS.
Time frame: +150 min of administration of THC
Positive and Negative Symptom Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS)
Positive, negative and general symptoms will be assessed using the positive, negative and general symptoms subscales of the PANSS.
Time frame: +240 min of administration of THC
Clinician Administered Dissociative Symptoms Scale (CADSS)
Perceptual alterations will be measured using the CADSS. This is a scale consisting of 19 self-report items and 8 clinician-rated items (0=not at all, 4=extremely). The scale captures alterations in environmental/time/body perception, feelings of unreality, and memory impairment.
Time frame: -30 min, +15 min, +80 min, +150 min, +240 min
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Feeling states associated with cannabis intoxication will be measured using a self-reported visual analogue scale of four feeling states ("high", "anxious", "calm and relaxed", and "tired") associated with cannabis effects. Subjects will be asked to score the perceived intensity of these feeling states at that moment on a 11 mm line (0=not at all, 100=extremely). These data will be captured to validate that the experiment is relevant to cannabis effects.
Time frame: -30 min, +15 min, +80 min, +150 min, +240 min
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT)
The HVLT is a 12 word list that is semantically organized. The task consists of 5 trials, an interference list, and free delayed recall and recognition. A different version of the AVLT will be administered on each test day and counterbalanced across subjects.
Time frame: +50 min
Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI)
The PSI is a measure of drug induced psychotomimetic states. This self-report scale consists of 28 items rated 0 (not at all) to 3 (extremely) and will facilitate the characterization of a wide range of dissociative/hallucinatory phenomena as well as cognitive disorganization associated with the administration of THC.
Time frame: -30 min, +240 min
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