Project Details
Abstract
Methamphetamine (METH) use has become a global pandemic and a significant burden
on mental health, emergency medical, and public safety services. So far no medications are
approved for the treatment of METH use disorder. Behavioral and psychosocial treatments are
the treatment of choice for METH dependence, but treatment is not always followed by
positive outcomes. Many people continue to use drugs and experience associated problems
even after multiple treatment episodes. One ongoing issue is whether specific individual
characteristics or markers can be identified that predict treatment outcome. The ability to link
specific characteristics with treatment success and, conversely, specific characteristics with
treatment failure, will add a new dimension to our ability to provide effective treatment by
directing efforts to develop new treatment tools for those resistant to programs. This proposed
investigation aims to examine the utility of genetic, neuroimaging, neurocognitive and
individual drug use characteristics for predicting in-treatment performance and relapse in
methamphetamine users. A 3-year prospective study is proposed. This study aims to recruit 60
METH abusers among individuals who are preparing to participate a 12-week weekly
out-patient treatment program for METH abuse or dependence using a psychosocial and
behavioral model. The inclusion criteria are: 1) meeting criteria for METH abuse or
dependence; 2) Current drug abstinence at least 2 weeks; 3) Age range between 18 and 65
years. The exclusion criteria are: 1) substance dependence other than METH (except nicotine);
2) diagnosis of other psychiatric disorders; 3) medical or neurological illness or trauma that
would affect the central nervous system; 4) history of loss of consciousness of over 3 minutes;
5) pregnancy; 6) left-handedness. Baseline assessments include demographic characteristics,
drug use characteristics, psychiatric diagnosis, genetic polymorphisms, neurocognitive
functions and neuroimages. After baseline assessments, the subjects start a12-week weekly
out-patient treatment program. The in-treatment performance variables used in analyses
include retention, abstinence and completion. Objective assessment of methamphetamine use
was obtained by urine samples collected once-weekly from participants during treatment.
Baseline assessments include research diagnoses using the Chinese version of Diagnostic
Interview for Genetic Studies, 158Val/Met and rs165599 COMT genetic polymorphisms,
self-rating Barratt impulsiveness scale, cognitive tests: 1) Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for
executive function research; 2) Iowa Gambling Task for decision-making; 3) Continuous
Performance Task for impulsivity, and 99mTc TRODAT-1 single photons emission computer
tomography (SPECT). This study proposes to analyze 1) associations between the baseline
assessments, i.e. demographic characteristics, drug use characteristics, genetic polymorphisms,
neurocognitive functions and neuroimages; 2) associations between the baseline assessments
and in-treatment performance, i.e. retention, abstinence and completion.
Project IDs
Project ID:PC10108-0484
External Project ID:NSC101-2314-B182-080
External Project ID:NSC101-2314-B182-080
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 01/08/12 → 31/07/13 |
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