Cannabis Use for Depression in Adolescents

(Cann-Teen Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Vilma Gabbay, MD, JD, MS

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Miami

Must not be taking: Psychotropics, Stimulants

Disqualifiers: MRI contraindications, Pregnancy, Neurological illnesses, Low IQ, SUD, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

280 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how cannabis affects brain function in adolescents dealing with depression. It specifically focuses on those who frequently use cannabis and those who don't use cannabis but are experiencing depression. Participants will undergo brain scans (neuroimaging investigation) over two years to help researchers understand any changes in brain activity. Teens who use cannabis regularly or have depression and are off certain medications might be a good fit for this study.

As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could improve understanding of adolescent brain health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are a depressed THC non-user, you must be free of psychotropic medications (drugs that affect mood, perception, or behavior) for more than 1 month before joining the study, or more than 3 months for medications with a long half-life like fluoxetine.

What prior data suggests that this neuroimaging investigation is safe for adolescents?

Research shows that cannabis use during adolescence can link to certain mental health risks. For instance, studies have found that starting cannabis use at a young age might increase the risk of developing psychotic disorders. However, not every teen who uses cannabis will experience these issues; only a small number may face long-term effects.

Past research has observed changes in brain size and connections in teens who use cannabis, as seen in brain scans. These changes, however, do not occur in everyone and can vary significantly among individuals.

Overall, while some risks are associated with cannabis use in teens, not every teen will encounter negative effects. The evidence suggests that some may be more at risk than others. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the neuroimaging investigation for adolescent depression because it offers a novel way to understand how cannabis use affects the brain. Unlike traditional treatments that typically involve medications or therapy aimed at altering mood or behavior, this approach uses advanced imaging technology to visualize brain activity and structure over time. By doing so, it could uncover new insights into how cannabis might alleviate or worsen depression, potentially leading to more targeted and effective treatments in the future.

What evidence suggests that this neuroimaging investigation is effective for studying depression in adolescents?

Research has shown that using cannabis during the teenage years can affect brain function. Brain scans have revealed changes in the size and connections in the brains of teens who use cannabis. Some studies suggest a link between cannabis use and a higher risk of experiencing depression later in life. However, little direct evidence supports cannabis as a treatment for depression symptoms in teenagers. These findings focus on how cannabis affects the brain, not its use in treating depression. Participants in this trial will undergo neuroimaging to further explore these effects. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Vilma Gabbay, MD, JD, MS

Principal Investigator

University of Miami

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescents who use cannabis and are experiencing depression. Specific eligibility criteria have not been provided, but typically participants would need to meet certain age requirements and have a diagnosis of depression.

Inclusion Criteria

Cannabis users: Participants with a significant cannabis use (self-reported use on ≥15 of the prior 30 days and positive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) urine toxicology)

I have depression with a specific score on a depression scale.

Exclusion Criteria

MRI contraindications such as claustrophobia, metallic ink tattoos, orthodontic braces, or pacemakers

Positive pregnancy tests

Estimated full-scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) ≤80

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Neuroimaging Investigation

Participants receive neuroimaging investigation to study the effects of cannabis on brain function

Up to 2 years

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after neuroimaging investigation

Up to 1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Neuroimaging Investigation

Trial Overview The study aims to explore how cannabis affects brain function in depressed teens using neuroimaging techniques. This will involve scanning the brains of participants to observe any changes or patterns associated with cannabis use.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Neuroimaging Investigation Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive neuroimaging investigation for up to 2 years.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Miami

Lead Sponsor

Trials

976

Recruited

423,000+

Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research

Collaborator

Trials

40

Recruited

3,300+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 600 adolescents aged 12-18 with cannabis use disorder, both cannabis use and depressive symptoms decreased over time, indicating a potential link between the two, where reducing cannabis use may also help alleviate depression.

Interestingly, the presence of depressive symptoms did not hinder the effectiveness of substance use treatment, suggesting that improvements in cannabis use frequency can occur independently of changes in depressive symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Temporal dynamics of the relationship between change in depressive symptoms and cannabis use in adolescents receiving psychosocial treatment for cannabis use disorder. Arias, AJ., Hammond, CJ., Burleson, JA., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8168938/

Effects of Adolescent Cannabis Use on Motivation and ... This article reviews recent behavioral and neuroimaging studies to elucidate whether adolescent cannabis use is related to reduced motivation and increased ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2723657

Association of Cannabis Use in Adolescence and Risk ... This meta-analysis shows that cannabis consumption in adolescence is associated with increased risk of developing major depression in young ...

3. ccsa.ca ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2019-05/CCSA-Effects-of-Cannabis-Use-during-Adolescence-Summary-2015-en.pdf

The Effects of Cannabis Use during Adolescence Brain imaging of adolescents who used cannabis has revealed differences in the size (both increases and decreases),20–31 connectivity32,33 and quality9,26,34–38 ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6450286/

Association of Cannabis Use in Adolescence and Risk ... This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the association of cannabis use during adolescence with risk of developing subsequent major depression, ...

5. recoveryanswers.org recoveryanswers.org/research-post/cannabis-use-disorder-treatment-improve-depressive-symptoms-adolescents/

Does cannabis use disorder treatment also improve ... This study examined patterns of depression symptoms and cannabis use over a year among adolescents receiving treatment for a cannabis use disorder to ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12483347/

Cannabis Use in Adolescents - PMC - PubMed Central - NIH Adolescent cannabis use has an established association with an increased risk of psychotic disorders, particularly among those with early-onset ...

7. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15504263.2019.1636171

Cannabis Use in Adolescence: A Review of Neuroimaging ... Results: We found 43 studies that examined brain effect (structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging) in adolescent cannabis users and ...

8. psychiatryonline.org psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250444

An Update on the Behavioral and Neurobiological Effects ... Although not all adolescents who use cannabis will experience adverse outcomes, a susceptible subset may face lasting consequences. These risks ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7588219/

Cannabis use among U.S. adolescents in the Era of Marijuana ... Results from a recent meta-analysis found that adolescent-onset cannabis use is associated with a modest increase in the odds of depression, suicidal ideations, ...