SV2A Density Cannabis Use Disorder

Launched by YALE UNIVERSITY · Jul 20, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "SV2A Density Cannabis Use Disorder," is investigating how the brain's ability to manage certain connections, particularly in a region called the hippocampus, changes in people who have cannabis use disorder (CUD) after they stop using cannabis for at least four weeks. The researchers want to see if this change in brain function relates to how well participants can remember things verbally. They will also look at how different factors, like how long someone has been using cannabis, affect these changes.

To be eligible for the study, participants with CUD need to be between 18 and 75 years old, have a history of daily cannabis use, and be willing to quit for the study. Healthy volunteers who want to participate must also be between 18 and 75 years old and in good health. Participants can expect to undergo brain scans and memory tests before and after their period of abstinence. It's important to note that certain health conditions or medications may disqualify individuals from participating to ensure safety during the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• CUD Participants Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Able to provide informed consent
• • 2. Male and female 18-75 years old
• • 3. Daily cannabis use
• • 4. Positive urine screen for cannabinoids and negative for all other drugs on
• • 5. Diagnosis of DSM-5 cannabis use disorder (≥ moderate, i.e., ≥ 4 \[of 11\] symptoms).
• • 6. Must express a willingness at screening to set a date to attempt to quit using cannabis.
• • 7. Physically healthy i.e., no clinically unstable medical conditions.
• • 8. For women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and men, willingness to practice birth control and to inform study staff immediately if either they (for women) or their partner (for men) becomes pregnant.
• • 9. Additional criteria not disclosed here in order to minimize the risk of ineligible subjects enrolling in the study.
• CUD Participants Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Laboratory tests with clinically significant abnormalities or positive urine toxicology screen with exception of cannabinoids.
• • 2. Women with a positive pregnancy test or women who are lactating.
• • 3. Have implanted or embedded metal objects or fragments in the head or body that would present a risk during the MRI scanning procedure, or have worked with ferrous metals either as a vocation or hobby (for example, as a sheet metal worker, welder, or machinist) in such a way that might have led to unknown, indwelling metal fragments that could cause injury if they moved in response to placement in the magnetic field
• • 4. Have had exposure to ionizing radiation that in combination with the study tracer would result in a cumulative exposure that exceeds recommended exposure limits.
• • 5. History of a bleeding disorder or are currently taking anticoagulants (such as Coumadin, Heparin, Pradaxa, Xarelto) Subjects who have donated blood within 8 weeks of the present study
• • 6. Medications that could alter synaptic density and, therefore, confound the interpretation of study data.
• • 7. Additional criteria not disclosed here in order to minimize the risk of ineligible subjects enrolling in the study.
• Healthy Controls Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Willing and able to give voluntary written informed consent
• • 2. Male and Female subjects, age 18 to 75 years, inclusive
• • 3. BMI within 19 to 35 kg/m2, inclusive
• • 4. Must be in good health as determined by medical history, physical examination, ECG, serum/urine biochemistry, hematology, and serology tests.
• • 5. Negative urine drug screen
• • 6. If female, not pregnant or breastfeeding
• • 7. If female of childbearing potential, must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control, as determined by the principal investigator, for the duration of the study and up to one month after completion of PET scans.
• • 8. Able to read and write, able to communicate effectively with the investigator, and comply with all study requirements, restrictions, and directions of the clinic staff.
• • 9. Have arterial access sufficient to allow blood sampling as per the protocol.
• Healthy Controls Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. History or presence of clinically significant and unstable respiratory, GI, renal, hepatic, pancreatic, hematological, neurological (including history of seizure), cardiovascular, psychiatric (including known addictive disorders), musculoskeletal, genitourinary, immunological, or dermatological disorders, including all cancers.
• • 2. Abnormal clinically significant laboratory or physical findings during screening
• • 3. History of a bleeding disorder or are currently taking anticoagulants (such as Coumadin, Heparin, Pradaxa, Xarelto)
• • 4. A condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent compliance with the study protocol.
• • 5. Medications that could alter synaptic density and, therefore, confound the interpretation of study data.
• • 6. MRI incompatible implants and other contraindications for MRI, such as pace-maker, artificial joints, non-removable body piercings, metal fragments in head and/or body, or history working with ferrous metals either as a vocation or hobby in such a way that might have led to unknown, indwelling metal fragments that could cause injury during MRI etc.
• • 7. Subjects who suffer from claustrophobia.
• • 8. Participation in other research studies involving ionizing radiation within one year of the PET scans that would cause the subject to exceed the yearly dose limits for healthy volunteers
• • 9. Additional criteria not disclosed here in order to minimize the risk of ineligible subjects enrolling in the study.