Neurological Influences on Drug Prevention Intervention

Summary

In this R01 study, a randomized clinical trial is proposed to evaluate the efficacy of a drug abuse prevention intervention for indicated middle school youth that coordinates family and teen-based components. The Family Management Intervention is comprised of a parent-focused curriculum to foster parenting skills followed by brief family therapy to foster adaptive family communication and age-appropriate roles. The Teen Achievement Intervention is comprised of a clinician-delivered learning strategy curriculum to foster academic achievement followed by a similar yet peer-facilitated curriculum to foster self-efficacy and prosocial peer networks. In the first study aim, we seek to evaluate the separate and possibly synergistic effects of the Family Management and Teen Achievement components on post intervention drug use, problem behavior, psychological distress, and academic achievement of indicated youth. Innovative analytic strategies are subsequently used to elucidate mediated pathways by which the interventions might reduce drug involvement and problem behavior by promoting changes in targeted skills and behavior change processes. The possibility of effect-modification also is considered, with a focus on neurocognitive, internalizing/externalizing, and demographic factors, in an effort to discern why interventions work for some youth but not others. This application revision has sought to address well-taken concerns cited by the reviewers while maintaining proposal strengths. In response to a key limitation, this revision includes further specification of anticipated relationships between neurocognitive variables, skill acquisition levels, and prevention intervention outcomes among indicated youth. Study hypotheses on specific neurocognitive effects are informed by empirical findings and the clinical experience of investigative team members specializing in neuropsychology. If successful, this project should improve prevention practices by identifying malleable behavior change processes fostered by effective interventions. Improving our understanding of how individual characteristics of indicated youth, such as neurocognitive deficits or externalizing problems, influence the development of skills during interventions and subsequent outcomes may also help to improve existing prevention interventions. The significance of the proposed study is underscored further by the substantial size of the targeted population of indicated youth, and the range of morbidities and mortality that often result when early warning signs of drug abuse are not addressed.

Conditions

• Youths At-risk for Drug Use/Abuse

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Integrated Family and Cognitive-Behavioral Drug Prevention Intervention

The family therapy component of IFCBT includes engagement, active treatment, and maintenance phases. The cognitive program focuses on harmful effects of drugs and strategies to better manage drug abuse risks. The cognitive-behavioral program introduces youths to problem-solving behavior change principles and study skills to promote school achievement.

OTHER

Psychoeducation

Drug education curriculum was delivered to participants assigned to this condition.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  collaborator NIH

• Johns Hopkins University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Florida

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• William W. Latimer, PhD, MPH · Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

11 Years

Max Age

15 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2005-01-31

Primary Completion

2011-12-31

Completion

2011-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations