Study of Six Weeks of Cannabis Abstinence Effects on Brain Activity in Adolescents with Cannabis Use Disorder Using fMRI

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying changes in brain activity related to reward in adolescents aged 15 to 18 years old with and without Cannabis Use Disorder CUD. The study aims to understand how abstaining from cannabis affects brain function, particularly in areas involved in reward processing and connectivity between brain regions. It also explores self-reported impulsivity to better understand individual differences that cannot be captured by previous studies. Adolescents with CUD will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will undergo a 6-week program encouraging verified cannabis abstinence through rewards, while the other group will be monitored without required abstinence. A control group of age- and sex-matched adolescents without any history of cannabis use will also participate. The study involves nine visits over about six weeks, including three visits with brain scans using functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI. Participants may also choose to complete daily remote reports on cannabis use, impulsivity, and mood during and after the treatment period. Participants will have brain scans at baseline, week 3, and week 6 to measure brain activation during a reward task and resting-state connectivity. Urinalysis will be conducted to confirm cannabis use reports, and impulsivity will be measured using a questionnaire at multiple points. Optional daily remote assessments may continue for an additional six weeks after treatment. The study tracks brain changes, behavior, and self-reported experiences to better understand the effects of cannabis abstinence in adolescents.

Determining the Effect of Six Weeks of Cannabis Abstinence on Fronto- Striatal fMRI Markers in Adolescents With Cannabis Use Disorder (ABSCAN)