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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Jun:45:119-23.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.01.013. Epub 2015 Jan 23.

Cognitive performance in a placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy trial for youth with marijuana dependence

Amanda Roten  1 , Nathaniel L Baker  2 , Kevin M Gray  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cognitive performance in a placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy trial for youth with marijuana dependence

Amanda Roten et al. Addict Behav. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Adolescent marijuana use is associated with neurocognitive impairment, but further work is needed to assess the relationship between treatment-associated abstinence and cognitive performance.

Methods: This secondary analysis, conducted in the context of a marijuana cessation pharmacotherapy trial in adolescents, examined cognitive performance at baseline and at two time points during treatment using the CNS Vital Signs assessment battery.

Results: Abstinence from marijuana, relative to continued use, as assessed via urine cannabinoid testing, was associated with significant improvement in composite memory (p<0.001), verbal memory (the most impacted component of composite memory) (p<0.001), and psychomotor performance (p=0.045) scores.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that some domains of cognitive performance improve significantly even in the early stages of treatment-associated abstinence.

Keywords: Adolescent; Cognition; Cognitive performance; Marijuana; Memory; Youth.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Composite, verbal and visual memory scores by abstinence grouping. Data are shown as mean levels and associated standard errors adjusted for treatment assignment, baseline memory level, and visit. A) Composite Memory: Not abstinent=88.68 ± 1.42, Recently Abstinent=96.21 ± 1.95, Consistently Abstinent=95.85 ± 1.50. B) Verbal Memory: Not abstinent=45.63 ± 0.82, Recently Abstinent=51.66 ± 1.17, Consistently Abstinent=52.45 ± 0.88. C) Visual Memory: Not abstinent=42.37 ± 0.86, Recently Abstinent=44.27 ± 1.17, Consistently Abstinent=42.76 ± 0.88. * p<0.05 as compared to “Not Abstinent” group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Psychomotor speed by abstinence grouping. Data are shown as mean levels and associated standard errors adjusted for treatment assignment, baseline psychomotor speed, and visit. Not abstinent=185.7 ± 2.7, Recently Abstinent=194.7 ± 3.2, Consistently Abstinent=194.1 ± 2.7. * p<0.05 as compared to “Not Abstinent” group.
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