Temporal Window and Episodic Future Thinking in CUD

Last updated: March 13, 2025
Sponsor: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Stimulant Use Disorder

Treatment

Control Episodic Thinking

Episodic Future Thinking (EFT)

Clinical Study ID

NCT05507814
VT IRB #22-529
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The primary objective is to test the theory of Reinforcer Pathology via manipulation of the temporal window with successive Episodic Future Thinking generation in individuals with cocaine use disorder.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. demonstrate recent cocaine use and CUD (use in last month, DSM-5 for CUD > 4)

  2. be 18 years of age or older

  3. have a desire to quit or cut down on their cocaine use, but do not have proximateplans to enroll in treatment for CUD during the study period

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. meeting moderate to severe DSM-5 criteria for opioid use disorder

  2. having a current diagnosis of any psychotic disorder

  3. having a history of seizure disorders or traumatic brain injury

  4. having any contraindication for participation in the MRI sessions

Study Design

Total Participants: 100
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Control Episodic Thinking
Phase:
Study Start date:
November 30, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
August 31, 2025

Study Description

Adults with cocaine use disorder will be randomly assigned to experimental or control groups, stratified by polydrug use disorder, SES, and sex. The experimental group will compare episodic future thinking (EFT) to control episodic thinking (CET). The study procedures will include a baseline session (S1) and a 4-week intervention period where participants will return to the lab three times a week. Participants will generate new EFT and CET events at approximately weekly intervals. The EFT or CET events will be texted to them twice daily with urine samples obtained thrice-weekly. To probe resistance to disruption, both groups will receive stress-inducing probes that shorten the temporal window after the first and last cue generation. During the first assessment visit (S2), participants will be randomized with stratification to generate either episodic future thinking (EFT) or control episodic thinking (CET) events and will undergo neuroimaging procedures. At the following session in S3, participants will be randomized to receive one of two stress probes (counterbalanced) or their respective control. Participants will be exposed to a stress probe or control at S3 and the corresponding narrative at the next visit, S4. S5 and S6 will begin with participants generating new EFT/CET events that will be used for that session and the following two sessions. S7, like S2, will begin with EFT/CET event generation and neuroimaging procedures. During the final two sessions (S8, S9), participants will be exposed to the other stress probe and control that they did not see during S3/S4.

Connect with a study center

  • Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

    Roanoke, Virginia 24016
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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