Alcohol Approach/Avoidance Task, Sham Approach/Avoidance Task
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to determine if a marijuana (MJ) Approach Avoidance Task (AAT) intervention reduces cannabis use compared to a control condition containing no active components of AAT. Adolescent heavy MJ users (N=40, ages 16-21) will be randomly assigned to MJ-AAT (n=20) or control condition (MJ-Sham, n=20) for three weeks. The MJ-AAT includes six sessions designed to reduce action tendencies to approach marijuana. The MJ-Sham includes six MJ-AAT-sham conditions. Substance use and cognitive assessment will identify changes in MJ use patterns and mechanisms of treatment outcomes. Additionally, using an functional magnetic resonance imaging marijuana cue reactivity task, we will determine differences in neural response in reward regions before and after 3 weeks of either AAT or sham treatment.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMarijuana Approach Avoidance Training
Approach Avoidance Training (AAT) is a novel computerized procedure that modifies implicit approach tendencies by training individuals to selectively avoid drug- related stimuli, thereby overriding habitual approach tendencies. Participants are randomized to either the treatment or sham condition. Treatment duration involves 6 training sessions of approximately 15 minutes each (400 trials). AAT requires minimal training and involves only a computer and a joystick, in which participants are either pulling or pushing the joystick when different marijuana or non-marijuana images are displayed with either yellow (pull) or blue (push) border.
Sponsors
Medical University of South Carolina
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Years to 21 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* between age 16 and 21 * having \>50 lifetime marijuana use episodes and a pattern of at least weekly marijuana use for the past year (\>1+/week for 52 weeks) at study entry.
Exclusion criteria
* not having a parent to consent (for those under age 18) * prenatal alcohol (\>2 drinks on an occasion or \>4 drinks in a week) or any tobacco or illicit drug exposure * premature birth (\<34 weeks gestation), birth weight \<5 lbs, or other gestational or perinatal complications * history of a serious medical or neurological problems that could affect blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response, brain development, or study participation, including diabetes and recurrent migraine * current severe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) major Axis I psychiatric disorder (i.e., exclude participants with bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder) * use of any illicit substance (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamines) other than alcohol or marijuana \> 100 times * history of major neurological disorder or head trauma (with loss of consciousness \>10 minutes) * history of learning disability, pervasive developmental disorder, or other condition requiring special education * current use of medications that affect cerebral blood flow * non-correctable visual or hearing problems * non-fluent in English * MRI contraindications (e.g., braces, claustrophobia, irremovable metal implants or piercings) * pregnant on day of scan * intake of psychoactive medication as tested by urine drug screen.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in marijuana use from baseline through end of intervention | From 60 days before intervention to end of 3 week intervention | Assessing the change in marijuana use (as measured by number of days used marijuana X hits per day) from baseline to end of intervention. |
| Change in neural reactivity (as measured by BOLD: Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent response) in reward regions during marijuana-cue reactivity task | 3 weeks | Assessing the change in neural reactivity to marijuana cues before and after the intervention |
| Change in marijuana approach tendencies (via Approach Avoidance Assessment Task) as measured by reaction times. | 3 weeks | — |
| Change in short-term marijuana use from baseline to 1 month post-intervention | From 60 days before intervention to 1 month post-intervention | Assessing the short-term effects of intervention on marijuana use (as measured by number of days used marijuana X hits per day) from baseline to 1 month post-intervention. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in long-term marijuana use from baseline to 1 year post-treatment | From 60 days before intervention to 1 year post-intervention | Assessing the long-term effects of intervention on marijuana use (as measured by number of days used marijuana X hits per day) from baseline to 1 year post-intervention. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed