Cognitive performance in a placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy trial for youth with marijuana dependence.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Adolescent marijuana use is associated with neurocognitive impairment, but further work is needed to assess the relationship between treatment-associated abstinence and cognitive performance.

METHODS:

This secondary analysis, conducted in the context of a marijuana cessation pharmacotherapy trial in adolescents, examined cognitive performance at baseline and at two time points during treatment using the CNS Vital Signs assessment battery.

RESULTS:

Abstinence from marijuana, relative to continued use, as assessed via urine cannabinoid testing, was associated with significant improvement in composite memory (p<0.001), verbal memory (the most impacted component of composite memory) (p<0.001), and psychomotor performance (p=0.045) scores.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that some domains of cognitive performance improve significantly even in the early stages of treatment-associated abstinence.

• Authors: Amanda Roten, Nathaniel L Baker, Kevin M Gray
• Journal: Addictive behaviors (Addict Behav) Vol. 45 Pg. 119-23 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1873-6327 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25661990 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cannabinoids
• Free Radical Scavengers
• Acetylcysteine

Topics

• Acetylcysteine (therapeutic use)
• Adolescent
• Cannabinoids (urine)
• Cognition
• Cognition Disorders (psychology)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Counseling (methods)
• Female
• Free Radical Scavengers (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Marijuana Abuse (psychology, therapy, urine)
• Memory
• Memory Disorders (psychology)
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Psychomotor Performance
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult