The goal of this study is to understand the changes in neural correlates of reward in adolescents with and without Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). The study will collect functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data at 3 different timepoints with the primary goals of understanding striatal reward-based activation during a Monetary Incentive Delay Task and fronto-striatal fMRI resting-state functional connectivity. The study will also explore self-reported impulsivity. The long-term goal is to advance scientific understanding of neural changes associated with cannabis abstinence and inter-individual variability that cannot be otherwise measured in preexisting observational cohorts such as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.
This parallel intervention study will collect fMRI data in adolescents ages 15-18 years old with and without CUD at three different timepoints over the course of their intervention. Utilizing a validated paradigm, adolescents with CUD will be randomized to 6-weeks of either incentivized, biochemically verified abstinence via contingency management or monitoring with no required abstinence. Age- and sex-matched adolescents with no lifetime history of cannabis use will also complete the protocol. Participants will complete 9 study visits (3 with fMRI scans) involving urinalysis to confirm cannabis self-report and measures of impulsivity. Participants may additionally and optionally (1) complete daily remote self-report assessments of cannabis use, impulsivity, and mood throughout the 6-week treatment period, and (2) continue participation for an additional 6-week monitoring period after the treatment period, during which they complete daily remote self-report assessments of cannabis use, impulsivity, and mood.
Male and female adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18 (inclusive).
Have a parent or legal guardian who is able and willing to provide written informed consent.
Competent and willing to provide written informed assent (participants <18) or consent (participants=18).
Native English speaker.
Past twelve-month history of substance use disorders (except for Cannabis Use Disorder in CB-Abst and CB-Mon), assessed via semi-structured psychodiagnostics interview at baseline.
Metal implants such as surgical clips or pacemakers, or history of working with metal, unless the possibility of a metal fragment can be ruled out by recent orbital scans.
Prior head trauma with neurological sequelae.
Claustrophobia.
Parallel
CB-Abst
Behavioralincentivized, biochemically verified abstinence via contingency management
CB-Mon
Behavioralmonitoring with no required abstinence
Brain activation during Monetary Incentive Delay Task (reward processing)
A neural measure of reward activation will be defined as the difference between reward positive vs negative feedback in the standardized Harvard Oxford Striatal atlas during the MID Task.
Brain connectivity during resting-state functional neuroimaging protocol
A neural measure of reward-circuitry connectivity will be defined as the correlation values between standardized striatal and salience and orbitofrontal and salience cortical networks
Self-reported Impulsivity via UPPS-P scale
Self-reported impulsivity will be defined by Total and Premeditation (lack of), Urgency, Sensation Seeking, Perseverance (lack of) scores
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
