RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06941298

Neural and Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabis Use in Adolescents

Sponsor

University of Miami

Enrollment

280 participants

Start Date

Mar 4, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Depression Cannabis Use

Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of cannabis on brain function among adolescents with depression.

Eligibility

Min Age: 14 YearsMax Age: 20 Years

Inclusion Criteria3

Cannabis users 1) the study team will require majority of adolescents with cannabis use to have a significant cannabis use (self-reported use on ≥15 of the prior 30 days and positive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) urine toxicology).
Depression Positive
\) participants with subthreshold depression, defined as a raw severity score of ≥30 on the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R, for ages 14-17) and as a raw severity score of ≥12 on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS, for ages 18-20)

Exclusion Criteria12

MRI contraindications such as claustrophobia, metallic ink tattoos, orthodontic braces, or pacemakers
positive pregnancy tests
neurological illnesses and medical conditions such as unique pain syndromes (e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis)
estimated full-scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) ≤80 to ensure that participants have the ability to understand the study112
current Substance Use Disorder (SUD) other than cannabis or nicotine.
certified for or self-reported medical cannabis use, or intent to become certified
current stimulant use (methamphetamine or cocaine) by self-report or urine toxicology
oral contraceptives will be allowed and controlled for in order to maximize recruitment of older adolescents.
Depressed THC non-users:
psychotropic medication-free for \>1 month (or \>3 months for medications with a long half- life such as fluoxetine) prior to study enrollment.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) diagnoses of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum all non-cannabis substance-related disorders will be exclusionary.
Self-injurious acts (e.g. cutting) and suicidal ideations (SI) without a specific as passive SI) are common in adolescent depression and will be allowed. constitutes an imminent risk to self or others (defined as active SI), the withdrawn from the study and emergency procedures will be initiated immediately,

Interventions

BEHAVIORALNeuroimaging Investigation

Participants will undergo fMRI neuroimaging at two timepoints, at the start of the study and at the 1 year follow up. The fMRI is one hour in duration. During the fMRI, participants will complete two tasks investigating diverse aspects of reward circuitry activity. After this is completed, participants will be followed up for another year clinically.