Assessment of Cannabis Craving in Schizophrenia Using Virtual Reality

NCT01212081 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 99991046210-DA-N462
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: \- Individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders have a high prevalence of cannabis use. Understanding some of the environmental factors that maintain cannabis use, such as socially triggered cravings, is a critical step in improving treatment for cannabis dependence. In recent years, virtual reality has been studied to determine whether it can be used to induce craving by using life-like cue settings. Researchers are interested in using virtual reality systems to study cannabis cravings in individuals with schizophrenia. Objectives: \- To determine if virtual reality cues will elicit cannabis craving in persons with schizophrenia who have a history of cannabis use. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 18 and 50 years of age who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, are on a stable antipsychotic medication, and who have a lifetime history of at least 50 cannabis uses and average cannabis use of once per month. Design:

• This study involves an initial screening visit, a study visit, and a followup visit.
• Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, and will complete questionnaires about their history of marijuana and other drug use. Participants will also learn how to use the virtual reality equipment at this visit.
• During the study visit, participants will respond to marijuana cues using the virtual reality system while researchers monitor their heart rate, blood pressure, and sweat levels.
• At the followup visit, participants will complete questionnaires about their mood and any cravings for marijuana.

Conditions

Cannabis Use

Keywords

Virtual Reality; Schizophrenia; Cannabis; Assessment; Craving

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Primary measures include the Cannabis Craving Scale, Cannabis Attention Scale, and Marijuana Craving Questionnaire-Short Form, assessed after each cue. Physiological measures (blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance) are continuously measur...

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Secondary measures include the Mood form, assessed at baseline and after each cue, and measures of the virtual reality experience including the Immersion Questionnaire and Imagery Realism Presence Questionnaire, administered following the sessio...

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may not qualify if:

• year old males and females
• Lifetime history of at least 50 cannabis uses and average cannabis use of once per month (or average use of once per month prior to hospitalization, if inpatient)
• Current DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• Stable antipsychotic regimen (4 weeks on antipsychotic regimen and 30 days at current dose)
• Medically healthy as determined by screening criteria
• Agrees to wear a head mounted display (HMD) for a period of time generally not exceeding 45 minutes
• DSM-IV diagnosis of active alcohol or substance abuse (besides cannabis or nicotine) in the past 1 month or dependence within the past 6 months
• Current use of any medication that would interfere with the protocol in the opinion of MAI (dronabinol, varenicline, bupropion, etc)
• History of head injury, seizures, stroke, or severe motion sickness
• Positive urine toxicology screen for agents besides cannabis for substances other than cannabis or those used for therapeutic purposes: Participants who have an initial positive urine toxicology screen for substances other than those used for therapeutic purposes or cannabis will have the opportunity to return within two weeks for a second toxicology screen. If at that time the results are again positive, the participant will be excluded.
• Positive pregnancy test (if female)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): lead

Study Sites (1)

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC) 55 Wade Avenue

Catonsville, Maryland, 21228, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Addington J, Addington D. Patterns, predictors and impact of substance use in early psychosis: a longitudinal study. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2007 Apr;115(4):304-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00900.x.

  PMID: 17355521 BACKGROUND

• Andreasen NC. Negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Definition and reliability. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1982 Jul;39(7):784-8. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1982.04290070020005.

  PMID: 7165477 BACKGROUND

• Bordnick PS, Graap KM, Copp H, Brooks J, Ferrer M, Logue B. Utilizing virtual reality to standardize nicotine craving research: a pilot study. Addict Behav. 2004 Dec;29(9):1889-94. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.06.008.

  PMID: 15530734 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia; Marijuana Abuse

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders

Study Officials

• Stephen J Heishman, Ph.D.

  National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 29, 2010
• First Posted: September 30, 2010
• Study Start: September 26, 2010
• Study Completion: November 26, 2012
• Last Updated: April 5, 2018

Record last verified: 2012-11-26

Locations

US (1)