| The Effect of Yohimbine on Cocaine Cue Reactivity |
| (IRB No. 17204) |
| This study was designed to investigate the relationship between gender, stress and craving for cocaine following exposure to cocaine related cues. We are currently recruiting men and women who have used cocaine in the past 3 months, as well as men and women who have never used cocaine to participate as healthy controls. Individuals who meet initial eligibility criteria will be scheduled for a psychiatric interview and a physical exam including an EKG and blood draw. If the candidate is enrolled, he/she will be scheduled to stay in the hospital for 2 days and 2 nights. Each day, participants will be shown items related to cocaine use while research staff monitors their response. Yohimbine will be administered on one of the study days. There are follow-ups one week and one month later. |
| Contact Lisa Jenkins: (843) 792-0476 or jenkinli@musc.edu |
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| Exploring Gender Differences in the Neural Substrates of Stress Induced Drug Craving |
| (IRB No. 18441) |
| Relapse among cocaine dependent people has severe repercussions. Men and women report using cocaine for different reasons. For example, women often report using in response to stress. To date there are no medications that prevent relapse, which may be a function of neurobiological differences between men and women. Dr. Moran is conducting a study looking at brain activity in cocaine dependent men and women. Pictures of brain areas that regulate the stress response are taken after administering a stress hormone and completing math problems. It is predicted that cocaine dependent women will have more brain activity in stress areas than cocaine dependent men. Learning about differences in brain activity between men and women may lead to the development of medications preventing relapse. |
| Contact Lisa Jenkins: (843) 792-0476 or jenkinli@musc.edu |
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| Gender Differences In Response to NRT and Denicotinized Cigarette-Facilitated Extinction |
| (IRB No. 18333) |
| In this study, adult male and female (10 per group) treatment-seeking nicotine-dependent individuals will participate in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with the presentation of smoking-related cues under three conditions during a seven to ten day period: baseline, after NRT, and after denicotinized cigarette facilitated-extinction. After baseline scanning, subjects will receive three days of 21 mg nicotine patch. Scanning procedures will be repeated on day 3. Subjects will then receive denicotinized cigarettes for ad libitium smoking on days three through seven. Subjects will be asked to remain abstinent throughout the study period and they will be assessed daily with self-report, CO monitor and for nicotine withdrawal. |
| Contact Harvey Frampton: (843) 792-8938 or frampton@musc.edu |
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| The Impact of Varenicline on BOLD fMRI Activation During Smoking Cue-Induced Craving in Nicotine-Dependent Individuals |
| (IRB No. 18521) |
| This study will explore the impact of varenicline treatment on smoking cue-induced craving and associated regional brain activation. Studies also suggest a gender differential in the importance of smoking-related cues in maintaining smoking behavior. For this reason, equal number of men and women will be recruited and gender analysis will be performed. The results of this study will aid in the understanding of underlying neural mechanisms and treatment of nicotine dependence, the underlying neurobiology of varenicline's therapeutic effects, and may provide valuable information concerning gender differences. |
| Contact Harvey Frampton: (843) 792-8938 or frampton@musc.edu |
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| Menstrual Cycle Effects On Smoking Cessation and Cue Reactivity |
| (IRB No. 17279) |
| This study is investigating the impact of short-term ovarian hormone fluctuation on females as they try to quit smoking with the aid of either transdermal nicotine patch (TNP) or varenicline. Each participant will receive a standardized impulsivity evaluation and a laboratory-based cue reactivity assessment before the initiation of smoking cessation. Progesterone and estrogen levels will be measured at each of nine visits, thereby providing an index of reproductive hormone variation over the course of each participant's quit attempt. Subjects will be randomized to receive one of two active pharmacotherapeutic interventions for smoking cessation: TNP vs. varenicline in a randomized, single-blind, double dummy design. This project will provide important information about: a) the impact of ovarian hormone levels on smoking cessation outcomes, b) the relationship between smoking cue reactivity and smoking cessation, and c) comparison between a new pharmacotherapeutic agent and TNP in women. |
| Contact Ashley McCullough: (843) 792-5842 or mccullos@musc.edu |
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| Prescription Opiate Use: Stress and Cues |
| (IRB No. 18042) |
| Individuals who use pain pills or prescription opiates such as OxyContin, Vicodin, or Percocet are needed to participate in a brief non-treatment research study. Healthy individuals without any past or current alcohol or drug use problems are also needed to participate in the study. The study is examining the relationship between stress and drug cues. Compensation is provided. Information is kept strictly confidential. |
| Contact Lauren Singleton: (843) 792-0236 or singlelm@musc.edu |
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| Sex Differences in Attentional Bias and Cognitive Functioning in Response to Stress in Marijuana-dependent Individuals |
| (IRB No. 19292) |
| Ample evidence implicates both environmental cues and negative affective states in maintaining drug use or triggering relapse. However, although "craving" is believed to drive continued drug use, it is not well understood how cognitive processes influence craving and drug use, nor how they may differ between the sexes. Therefore, the goal of this study is to provide insight into sex differences in the cognitive aspects of drug craving and to assess the impact of stress on attentional bias for drug-related cues as well as on the availability of cognitive resources. |
Contact Stephen Fischer: (843) 792-8894 or fischerk@musc.edu |
