Cognitive Training for Substance Addiction

(MCT Trial)

Overseen By Carla Harenski

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The Mind Research Network

Disqualifiers: Dementia, Psychotic disorder, Major illness, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

288 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of two types of cognitive remediation training on real-world behavioral outcomes including substance use, institutional adjustment, and recidivism following release from prison. Each training type is designed to target one of two subtypes of antisocial criminal offenders, who are characterized by either: 1) Attention to context-based deficits, or 2) Affective cognitive control-based deficits. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does matching deficit type with targeted cognitive training improve outcomes (relative to mismatched training)? What are the functional brain mechanisms that underlie treatment change? Participants will: Be assigned to cognitive training that either does or does not match their deficit type. Complete six one-hour sessions of cognitive skills training. Complete pre and post-training behavioral tasks assessing self-regulation deficits. Complete structural MRI scans and functional MRI scans assessing cognitive control. Complete post-treatment follow-up assessments evaluating self-regulation, adjustment, and stressful life events, substance use and recidivism.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for offenders with substance use disorders who also have mild cognitive impairment or antisocial personality disorder. They should be able to complete cognitive training sessions and MRI scans. Details on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Currently incarcerated

No uncorrectable auditory or visual deficits

5th grade reading level or higher

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants complete six one-hour sessions of cognitive skills training, pre and post-training behavioral tasks, and MRI scans

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for real-world outcomes including substance use, institutional adjustment, and recidivism

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Affective Cognitive Control (ACC) training
• Attention to Context (ATC) training

Trial Overview The study tests two types of cognitive remediation: Attention to Context (ATC) training and Affective Cognitive Control (ACC) training, aiming to match the treatment type with the offender's specific deficits. It includes brain imaging and behavioral tasks before and after six one-hour training sessions.

Participant Groups

Group I: No psychopathology Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in the no psychopathology group will receive one of the two treatment types (ATC or ACC).

Group II: Attention to context deficit Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants with attention to context deficits will receive treatment either targeted towards their specific deficit (matched) or towards affective cognitive control deficits (mismatched).

Group III: Affective Cognitive Control deficit Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants with affective cognitive control deficits will receive treatment either targeted towards their specific deficit (matched) or towards attention to context deficits (mismatched).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The Mind Research Network

Lead Sponsor

Trials

27

Recruited

2,300+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+