Targeting Drug Memories With Methylphenidate

Cocaine Use Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

Targeting Neural, Behavioral and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Drug Memories in Drug Addiction With Methylphenidate

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05978167
• Other study ID #: GCO 20-2707
• Secondary ID: R21DA054281
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Early Phase 1
• Start date: July 5, 2023
• Est. completion date: August 31, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: July 18, 2023
• Source: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Contact: Natalie E McClain, BA
• Phone: 5023034101
• Email: natalie.mcclain[@]mssm.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study aims to identify the neural, behavioral, and pharmacological mechanisms promoting diminished expression of drug-related memories in human drug addiction. In this fMRI study with a within-subjects placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over design, oral methylphenidate (20 mg) or placebo will be administered to individuals with cocaine use disorders (CUD) to peak during the retrieval of a drug-cue memory before extinction; in addition to fMRI activations, skin conductance responses (SCR, acquired simultaneously) will serve as the psychophysiological indicators of memory modification. Assessments of interference with the return of drug-cue memories via SCR and craving will be conducted the day following MRI. This pharmocologically-enhanced behavioral approach to decreasing drug memories and craving in iCUD could ultimately be used to develop effective cue-exposure therapies for drug addiction. Procedures include MRI, blood draw, questionnaires and interviews, skin conductance response measures, and behavioral tasks.

Description:

Cue-exposure therapy has not proven efficacious in reducing relapse in drug addiction, illuminating the need for alternative strategies. Here researchers will test the neural correlates of two strategies, encompassing behavioral and pharmacological approaches, aimed to interfere with the return of drug memories in individuals with cocaine use disorders. Results may pave the way towards enhancing the efficacy of cue-exposure therapy in reducing cue-induced craving and relapse in drug addiction (generalizable across drugs of abuse/behavioral addictions).

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 50
• Est. completion date: August 31, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: August 31, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 26 Years to 50 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria:

• Ability to understand and give informed consent
• Males and females 26-50 years of age
• DSM-V diagnosis for CUD or otherwise problematic cocaine use as clinically determined

Exclusion criteria:

• DSM-5 diagnosis for schizophrenia or developmental disorder (e.g., autism)
• Head trauma with loss of consciousness
• History of neurological disease of central origin including seizures
• Cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure and/or other medical conditions, including metabolic, endocrinological, oncological or autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases including Hepatitis B and C or HIV/AIDS
• Metal implants or other MR contraindications

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cocaine Use Disorder
• Substance Use Disorder
• Substance-Related Disorders

Intervention

Drug:
• Methylphenidate
Oral administration of 20 mg Methylphenidate

Behavioral:
• Memory reconsolidation
Retrieval of drug-cue memories before extinction.

Drug:
• Placebo
Matching placebo pill

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai	New York	New York

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai	National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	fMRI blood-oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal	fMRI blood-oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal deactivation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in response to retrieval of drug-cue memory.	Day 1
Primary	fMRI blood-oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal	fMRI blood-oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal deactivation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in response to retrieval of drug-cue memory.	Day 7
Secondary	Skin Conductance Responses (SCR)	Measure of changes to skin conductance responses in response to retrieval of drug-cue memory. The conductance is measured by placing two electrodes on the fingers and passing a small, 0.5 V electric charge between the two points. An increase in the skin conductance response (SCR) reflects heightened arousal in response to the drug-cue memory, changes in which are monitored following exposure to the drug cues.	24 hours after each neuroimaging session
Secondary	Craving	Measure of changes to craving in response to retrieval of drug-cue memory. Self-reported cue-induced craving in response to drug cues will be assessed.	24 hours after each neuroimaging session