Cannabis Dependence, Cannabis Use Disorder
Conditions
Brief summary
This study investigates the effects of repeated NAC administration on glutamate concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), on neurocognitive functioning, and on neuro-inflammatory parameters in adult cannabis-dependent individuals.
Interventions
DRUGN-acetylcysteine
1200 mg/day, twice daily, N-acetylcysteine
DRUGPlacebo Oral Tablet
twice daily, placebo
OTHERMagnetic Resonance Imaging
OTHERNeurocognitive measures
OTHERNeuro-inflammatory measures
Sponsors
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)
Intervention model description
RCT
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Current DSM-IV diagnosis of cannabis dependence, \>1 week detoxified and abstinent; * Able to provide written informed consent and to comply with study procedures. * Dutch speaking (Dutch as primary language).
Exclusion criteria
* Currently dependent on any substance other than cannabis, alcohol or nicotine; * History of any major internal disease (including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, liver or kidney disease); * An active or any history of neurological disorder, including but not limited to seizure disorder, epilepsy, stroke, neurological disease, cognitive impairment, head trauma with prolonged loss of consciousness (\>10 minutes), or migraine headaches; * An active or a history of a psychiatric disorder including, but not limited to, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders; * Asthma; * Known hypersensitivity or allergy to n-acetylcysteine, or receiving chronic therapy with medication that could interact adversely with n-acetylcysteine within 30 days prior to randomization (i.e., nitroglycerin, ACE inhibitors or antihypertensive drugs, anti-coagulants); *
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Brain glutamate concentrations | at study end (2 weeks after study start) | Glutamate concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Motor impulsivity | at study end (2 weeks after study start) | Stop Signal Reaction Time (SSRT) on the Stop Signal Task |
| Cognitive impulsivity | at study end (2 weeks after study start) | Indifference point measured by a Monetary Delayed Discounting Task |
| Attentional Bias | at study end (2 weeks after study start) | Difference in response time for incongruent-congruent stimuli on a Stroop task |
| Neuro-inflammation | at study end (2 weeks after study start) | Concentration of interleukin in blood |
Countries
Belgium
Contacts
Primary ContactCleo L Crunelle, PhD
Backup ContactF Matthys PhD
Outcome results
None listed