Effects of Repeated Memory Training on Memory Function and Addiction Related Processes

Prospective memory is the ability to implement an intention to the future (e.g. remember to take medication, attend a scheduled meeting), and has receive little attention in addiction. The investigators propose that prospective memory plays a critical, yet unrecognized, role in major human behavior change such as that required in addiction treatment. This study will determine the preliminary efficacy of prospective memory training in improving memory and executive functions while reducing illicit drug use in methadone patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: an experimental memory training program or one of two comparator memory training programs.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Substance-Related Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Experimental memory training; Behavioral: Comparator memory training 1; Behavioral: Comparator memory training 2

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 1
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
      • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bayview Campus

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 55 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-55; provision of written consent
• Enrolled in a substance use treatment program
• Sex with ≥ 2 partners in the last 30 days and sex without a condom on at least one occasion in the last year

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe psychiatric conditions associated with psychosis or any unstable psychiatric condition
• History of medical, psychiatric, or neurological conditions associated with significant cognitive impairment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Memory Training; Experimental memory training program	Behavioral: Experimental memory training; The experimental memory training will be implemented as a computer program that uses state-of-the-art immersive technology to simulate prospective memory in everyday life in which one must remember to carry out tasks throughout the day, while engaging in current ongoing activity. Participants are asked to imagine they have a work-at-home job (ongoing activity), which is an independent program (CogMed QM) designed to train working memory, but that they also need to remember to carry out a number of tasks throughout the day. Using a touch screen, participants will need to touch objects in the simulated environment to appropriately interact with these stimuli according to their pre-assigned tasks.
Active Comparator: Comparator Memory Training 1; Comparator memory training program	Behavioral: Comparator memory training 1; The first comparator memory training intervention will utilize the same overall structure and immersive computer environment as the experimental memory intervention, but will not challenge the same aspects of cognition.
Active Comparator: Comparator Memory Training 2; Alternative comparator memory training program	Behavioral: Comparator memory training 2; The second comparator memory training intervention will utilize the same overall structure and immersive computer environment as the experimental memory intervention, but will not challenge the same aspects of cognition.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in prospective memory over course of training	Prospective memory will be evaluated within the program itself and measured as the percentage of correct responses within the program. Higher percentages are indicative of greater prospective memory performance.	one month
Change in drug use and substance abuse over course of training.	Drug use will be evaluated by urinalysis. Negative screens are indicative of drug abstinence.	one month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Matthew W Johnson, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 8, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 12, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): September 15, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 10, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2020
• Last Verified: January 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Prospective memory, working memory, substance abuse
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00138474

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No