Brain-Behavioral Vulnerabilities Laboratory
Clinical Studies
The Challenge
Though many individuals are exposed to rewarding drugs of abuse (and rewarding activities such as eating or playing video games), only a subgroup become “addicted” – pursuing these rewarding substances or activities despite negative consequences. Why do only some become addicted? Why do some who are addicted have more difficulty with relapse? And why do some treatments work well for one individual, but not for another? In our view, the answers to these critical questions lie in the individual differences in the structure and function of the organ that is responsible for everything that we think and feel and do: the brain. The Brain-Behavioral Vulnerabilities Laboratory (BBV) is thus focused on identifying the role of the brain in relapse, and in addiction itself. We conduct research studies that use brain imaging to measure the way the brain responds – whether “At Rest”, or in response to behavioral tasks or games, and/or to ongoing treatments (therapies and medications). These overall goals of these studies are to improve our understanding of why relapse occurs, to develop new treatments to prevent relapse, and – eventually -- to learn to how to match an individual’s brain strengths to the available treatments.
The Brain-Behavioral Vulnerabilities Laboratory is currently recruiting for a number of "active" clinical studies, as indicated below. The "pending" studies are not yet recruiting, but funding is in place.
Many of these studies offer (behavioral and/or medication) addiction treatment either as part of the research study itself, or as a benefit of participating in the scan studies.
If you are eligible for research participation, the treatments offered are always at no cost to you, and you will also be compensated for your research participation.
There is a detailed screening process to determine your eligibility for each study.
Click on the links below to find out more about the research studies for which you may qualify:
COCAINE STUDIES
Study Name: The C.U.R.E. - Cocaine
Funding Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Universal Research Enhancement (C.U.R.E) Addiction Center of Excellence: Brain Mechanisms of Relapse and Recovery
Objective: The C.U.R.E. Center represents a large-scale research effort to link brain and behavioral measures of reward and inhibition (at study entry, during treatment and after treatment) with drug use outcomes, toward finding predictors of both relapse and recovery.
Diagnosis or Problem: Cocaine Dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: A 7-10 day inpatient stay followed by weekly outpatient drug counseling and psychosocial treatment; Participation in up to 4 fMRI scans that occur before, during, and after the treatment period
Duration: 12 weeks of treatment plus 12 weeks of follow-up
Study Status: Active - recruiting patients
Contact Information:
Toll Free: 1-800-528-5527
Rob: frob@mail.med.upenn.edu
Kathleen: marquezk@mail.med.upenn.edu
Study Name: Real-Time fMRI Feedback Training for Cocaine Craving
Funding Source: National Institutes for Health (NIH)/ National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Objective: The overall goal of the Real-time fMRI Feedback Training study is to determine whether providing visual feedback from “executive control” regions in the brain can help patients learn to block or reduce the disruptive effects of drug cues, including the ability of these cues to trigger drug motivation.
Diagnosis or Problem: Cocaine Dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: A 7-10 day inpatient stay, 4 fMRI scans plus 8 weeks of behavioral therapy
Duration: 8 weeks of treatment
Study Status: Active - recruiting patients
Contact Information:
Rob: frob@mail.med.upenn.edu
Study Name: Reduction of Cue-Triggered Brain Responses by Repeated Exposure (Extinction)
Funding Source: National Institutes for Health (NIH)/ National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Objective: The goal of these studies is to find out whether repeated exposure to cues reminiscent of cocaine – but without cocaine – may have a beneficial impact on the brain response to these cues.
Diagnosis or Problem: Cocaine Dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: A 7-10 day inpatient stay, 3 fMRI scans plus 8 weeks of behavioral therapy
Duration: 8 weeks of treatment
Study Status: Not currently recruiting
MARIJUANA STUDIES
Study Name: The C.U.R.E.-Marijuana
Funding Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Universal Research Enhancement (C.U.R.E) Addiction Center of Excellence: Brain Mechanisms of Relapse and Recovery
Objective: The C.U.R.E. Center represents a large-scale research effort to link brain and behavioral measures of reward and inhibition (at study entry, during treatment and after treatment) with drug use outcomes, toward finding predictors of both relapse and recovery. The C.U.R.E. Marijuana component will also test the impact of a medication, the GABA B agonist baclofen, vs. Placebo, on marijuana use.
Diagnosis or Problem: Marijuana Dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: Baclofen or placebo (double-blind), plus weekly outpatient drug counseling and psychosocial treatment; Participation in up to 4 fMRI scans that occur before, during, and after the treatment period
Duration: 12 weeks of treatment plus 12 weeks of follow-up
Study Status: Active - recruiting patients
Contact Information:
Toll Free: 1-800-528-5527
Julian: benderj@mail.med.upenn.edu
Kathleen: marquezk@mail.med.upenn.edu
NICOTINE STUDIES
Study Name: Effects of Varenicline on Smoking Behavior (VSMK)
Diagnosis or Problem: Nicotine dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: Varenicline or placebo (double-blind), 2 fMRI scans, plus weekly monitoring meetings
Duration: 8 weeks of treatment (including 2 fMRI scans) plus 1 week of follow-up
Study Status: Active - recruiting patients
Contact Information:
Telephone: 1-215-222-3200 x199
Josh: joshshin@mail.med.upenn.edu
Olivia: olivh@upenn.edu
Study Name: Acute Baclofen-Affect Regulation Task (AB-ART)
Diagnosis or Problem: Nicotine dependence
Study Involves: 1 small dose of baclofen
Duration: 2 fMRI scans
Study Status: Closed
Study Name: Use of SPECT to examine DAT genotype in smokers (DDAT)
Diagnosis or Problem: Nicotine dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: 2 SPECT scans (one sated and one withdrawal session)
Duration: 4 visits (including 2 SPECT scans)
Study Status: Not currently recruiting
Study Name: Input of genotype on brain and behavioral responses to baclofen in smokers
Diagnosis or Problem: Nicotine dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: Baclofen, 2 fMRI scans, plus weekly monitoring
Duration: 3 weeks of treatment (including 2 fMRI scans) plus 1 week of follow-up
Study Status: Start up (not yet recruiting)
OPIATE STUDIES
Study Name: The C.U.R.E - Prescription Opiates
Funding Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Universal Research Enhancement (C.U.R.E) Addiction Center of Excellence: Brain Mechanisms of Relapse and Recovery
Objective: The C.U.R.E. Center represents a large-scale research effort to link brain and behavioral measures of reward and inhibition (at study entry, during treatment and after treatment) with drug use outcomes, toward finding predictors of both relapse and recovery. The C.U.R.E. Prescription Opiates study also offers monthly (depot) injections of naltrexone, Vivitrol, as part of study participation.
Diagnosis or Problem: Opiate Dependence
Age: 18-60 years
Study Involves: Three injections of naltrexone (Vivitrol) plus weekly outpatient drug counseling and psychosocial treatment; Participation in up to 4 fMRI scans that occur before, during, and after the treatment period
Duration: 12 weeks of treatment plus 12 weeks of follow-up
Study Status: Active - recruiting patients
Contact Information:
1-800-528-5527
Emily: dowde@mail.med.upenn.edu
Kathleen: marquezk@mail.med.upenn.edu
Study Name: Biomarkers of Disease and Response to Treatment in Opioid Addiction (XRNT/XRM)
1-215-222-3200 x177
Shira: bladysh@mail.med.upenn.edu
Diagnosis: Opioid dependence
Age: 18-55 years
Study Involves: Three monthly injections of naltrexone (Vivitrol) plus weekly psychosocial treatment; Participation in up to 3 fMRI scans throughout treatment
Duration: 3 months of treatment plus 1 month of follow-up
Study status: Active - recruiting participants
HEALTHY CONTROL STUDIES
Study Name: Brain Substrates of Affect Regulation (BSAR)
Diagnosis: N/A
Age: 30-49 years (African-American males only)
Study Involves: 1 fMRI scan
Duration: 4 visits (including 1 fMRI scan)
Study status: Closed
PILOT STUDIES
Study Name: CURE Baby Schema Pilot
1-215-222-3200 x197
Diagnosis: Cocaine dependence
Age: 18-60 years (mothers only)
Study Involves: 1 fMRI scan and tasks
Duration:Up to 4 visits including fMRI
Study status: Active - recruiting participants
Study Name: CURE Wait-to-See pilot
Diagnosis: N/A
Age: 18 to 60 years
Study Involves: 1 fMRI scan and tasks
Duration: 2 visits
Study status: Pending
Study Name: Neural Substrates of Internet Video Garming Addiction
Objecive: We hope to gain a better understanding of the neurological and behavioral similarities between individuals with problematic online game use and individuals with substance dependence disorders.
Diagnosis: Two groups of participants: (1) Gamers whose quality of life has been significantly impacted by frequent multiplayer online gaming (Internet Use Disorder related to Internet Gaming) and (2) a control group of recreational online gamers
Age: 18 to 50 years
Study Involves: Willingness to play 30 minutes of online games; participation in 1 fMRI scan
Duration: 2 visits
Study status: Active – recruiting subjects
Contact Information:
215-222-3200 ext. 120
Zach: zsinger@mail.med.upenn.edu
Kathleen: marquezk@mail.med.upenn.edu
