Cannabis, HIV and Mental Processing Systems

Launched by WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · Jun 23, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The clinical trial titled "Cannabis, HIV and Mental Processing Systems" is looking to understand how regular cannabis use affects people living with HIV (PLWH) and their mental processing. The study involves comparing 80 regular cannabis users with 80 non-users among PLWH who are receiving treatment, along with a similar group of HIV-negative individuals. Researchers will gather detailed information about the immune system, brain structure, and cognitive performance to see how HIV and cannabis use interact. This research is important because it could help improve strategies for treating HIV and understanding its effects on the brain.

To participate in this study, you need to be between 18 to 70 years old, have been diagnosed with HIV for at least a year, and have been on effective HIV treatment for at least three months. If you're HIV-negative, you also need to have a confirmed negative status. Participants will undergo interviews and tests, including a possible MRI scan, to help researchers gather data. It's important to note that some medical conditions, such as certain neurological disorders or substance use disorders, may prevent you from joining the study. This trial aims to provide valuable insights that could benefit ongoing HIV treatment efforts.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Participants must be 18-70 years old.
• • 2. PLWH must have documented HIV infection for approximately 1 year, be on a cART regimen for approximately ≥3 months, and be virally well-controlled (\< 200 copies/mL).
• • 3. HIV- controls must have confirmed HIV- serostatus.
• • 4. Participants must complete at least 9 years of education.
• • 5. Participants must be able to provide informed consent.
• • 6. Female participants must have a negative pregnancy test or written documentation of tubal ligation, hysterectomy, post-menopausal status, etc. and cannot be breastfeeding.
• • 7. Participants should have no contraindications to an MRI scan.
• • 8. Participants should be willing to have cannabis use history confirmed via clinical interview and urine analysis .
• • 9. All inclusion criteria at PI discretion.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. History of neurological disorder (e.g., stroke, head injury with loss of consciousness for \>5 minutes, developmental learning disability, etc.).
• • 2. Uncontrolled major affective disorder; history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Major depression controlled with no hospitalizations or suicidal ideation in the past year is allowed.
• • 3. Current substance use disorder (SUD) as defined by DSM-5 criteria besides cannabis use disorder (CUD) (though a past SUD \> 1 year before the time of study enrolment will be allowed).
• • 4. currently prescribed anti-coagulants (only exclusionary if participant will engage in optional LP).
• • 5. an allergy to lidocaine or similar anesthetic (only exclusionary if participant will engage in optional LP).
• • 6. a history of a bleeding disorder (only exclusionary if participant will engage in optional LP).
• • 7. claustrophobia or a pacemaker that would prevent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning.
• • 8. all exclusion criteria at PI discretion.