Cognitive Enhancement and Relapse Prevention in Cocaine Addiction

Summary

For this project, the investigators are interested in exploring a new way to extend and maintain drug abstinence in people who are addicted to crack cocaine. This study will combine a medication called D-Cycloserine (DCS) and weekly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to assess whether the combination will enhance people's ability to stay clean (drug free) for longer periods of time.

One of the greatest risks for drug relapse is drug craving. Oftentimes drug craving occurs when a person is confronted with stressors and reminders of past drug use behavior. DCS has been shown to enhance the learning of new information. By administering DCS prior to learning new techniques such as how to cope with drug craving and drug-use reminders, it is possible that patients can be more successful at living a drug free life for a longer period of time.

In addition to exploring this model behaviorally, the investigators will explore changes that may occur in the brain before and after the therapy/medication intervention. A technique called MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) will be used to identify areas of the brain that are being activated during an attention task. Areas of neural activation will be assessed at study entry, end of therapy (4-week endpoint) and one month following completion of the treatment program.

Conditions

• Cocaine Addiction

Interventions

DRUG

Seromycin (D-cycloserine, DCS)

250 mg DCS once weekly for 4 weeks prior to the initiation of a Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) session for drug relapse intervention.

DRUG

Placebo

Placebo identical looking to the 250 mg DCS once weekly for 4 weeks prior to the initiation of a Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) session for drug relapse intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

All participants received Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy sessions 3 times per week for 4 weeks as a drug relapse intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Arkansas

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Clinton Kilts, PhD · University of Arkansas

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-06-30

Primary Completion

2012-01-31

Completion

2012-01-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations