Cognitive Enhancement and Relapse Prevention in Cocaine Addiction
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
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.