None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This research will investigate whether long-term methamphetamine use produces changes to driving ability in the absence of acute intoxication, and whether this can be effectively indexed and monitored through objective markers of performance. Using our high-fidelity driving simulator with advanced simultaneous eye-monitoring technologies, we will use real-time analysis of head position and eye movements to examine the relationship between gaze vector and driver behaviour to better understand the impact of methamphetamine addiction on driving performance in separate groups of 1.) individuals who use methamphetamine and 2) healthy adults who have no history of the use of psychostimulants and have no history of chronic/binge use of psychoactive substances. We expect that there will be a measurable difference in the patterns of eye movements displayed during driving by individuals who use methamphetamine versus those who have no history of the use of psychostimulants or no history of chronic/binge use of psychoactive substances
Interventions
This study will examine eye movement patterns during driving among individuals aged 21 to 60 years of age with physician-diagnosed methamphetamine dependence disorder and who currently use methamphetamine. Participants will first complete a pre-screening survey, and will then be invited to attend Swinburne University of Technology to complete a single session of testing, that will run for approximately 4 hours in duration. Eye tracking will take place simultaneously during the driving tasks, usi
This study will examine eye movement patterns during driving among individuals aged 21 to 60 years of age with physician-diagnosed methamphetamine dependence disorder and who currently use methamphetamine. Participants will first complete a pre-screening survey, and will then be invited to attend Swinburne University of Technology to complete a single session of testing, that will run for approximately 4 hours in duration. Eye tracking will take place simultaneously during the driving tasks, using a dash-mounted eye-tracking camera device. The device will not interfere with the driving tasks, and participants do not need to interact with it. All testing will be overseen by the research team, which includes a Research Assistant, Study Doctor and Research Nurse.
Sponsors
Swinburne University of Technology
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
21 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Healthy Controls • Male and female participants aged 21-60 years. • Willing and able to provide written informed consent. • Understands and is willing and able to comply with all study procedures. • Fluent in written and spoken English. • Normal vision or corrected with contact lenses. • Currently hold a (full) drivers’ licence (no ‘P-platers’) and are active drivers (at least once/week), with at least three years of driving experience. • No history of use of illicit amphetamine substances [amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)] • No use of other illicit substances or recreational (off-target) use of prescription medication either in past 12 months • Absence of lifetime chronic/binge drug use (self-report) • MMSE score greater than or equal to 23 (normal cognitive function) • Willing to abstain from the following prior to their scheduled visit: o No caffeine-containing products within 12 hours prior to testing o No alcohol within 12 hours prior to testing o No medication for at least 1 week prior to testing (except for prophylactic antibiotics, contraceptive pill, or other routine medications to treat benign conditions, such as antibiotics to treat acne) o No illicit substance use for one week prior to, and for the duration of the trial. 2. People who use methamphetamine • Male and female participants aged 21-60 years. • Willing and able to provide written informed consent. • Understands and is willing and able to comply with all study procedures. • Fluent in written and spoken English. • Normal vision or corrected with contact lenses. • Currently hold a (full) drivers’ licence (no ‘P-platers’) and are active drivers (at least once/week), with at least three years of driving experience. • Self-reported current, ongoing use of methamphetamine (greater than or equal to 1/week for the past 6 weeks) • Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) score greater than or equal to 23 (normal cognitive function) • Physician diagnosed current methamphetamine dependence (DSM-5 or equivalent) • Does not meet other DSM substance-use criteria concurrently, except for nicotine or cannabis dependence (physician-confirmed). • Willing to abstain from the following prior to their scheduled visit: o No methamphetamine for 12 hours prior to testing (self-report) o No alcohol within 12 hours prior to testing
Exclusion criteria
1. Healthy Controls • Unable to understand or comply with testing procedures. • Inability to speak or read English. • Taking any form of medication within one week of admission (except for prophylactic antibiotics, contraceptive pill, or other routine medications to treat benign conditions, such as antibiotics to treat acne) and agree not to take any medication throughout the study • Unable to participate in scheduled visit, treatment plan, tests, and other study procedures according to the protocol. • Currently under administrative or legal supervision. 2. People who use methamphetamine • Unable to understand or comply with testing procedures. • Inability to speak or read English. • Unable to participate in scheduled visit, treatment plan, tests and other study procedures according to the protocol (e.g., unable to abstain from methamphetamine for 12 hours prior to study session). • Currently under administrative or legal supervision.
Outcome results
None listed