Resistance Exercise and Cannabis Use

January 19, 2023 updated by: Gwendolyn Thomas, Penn State University

The Acute Effects of Resistance Exercise on Cannabis Use and Craving

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug and rates of hazardous use, and cannabis use disorders (CUDs), have continued to rise in recent years. The highest rates of use and CUDs are seen in young adults (20 - 24 years old) with more than 50% of young adults reporting lifetime use of cannabis, 35% report use in the past year, and 20% report use in the past month. Increased exposure produces higher risk for detrimental psychological and behavioral effects of cannabis use. Given this increased prevalence of cannabis use and associated risks, identifying effective behavioral strategies that reduce cannabis craving, negative psychological effects, and alter neurobiological mechanisms underlying problematic cannabis use are an avenue of needed research. Exercise, particularly resistance exercise, is a behavioral intervention with considerable potential as an adjunctive treatment for CUD.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug and rates of hazardous use, and cannabis use disorders (CUDs), have continued to rise in recent years. The highest rates of use and CUDs are seen in young adults (20 - 24 years old) with more than 50% of young adults reporting lifetime use of cannabis, 35% report use in the past year, and 20% report use in the past month. Increased exposure produces higher risk for detrimental psychological and behavioral effects of cannabis use. Given this increased prevalence of cannabis use and associated risks, identifying effective behavioral strategies that reduce cannabis craving, negative psychological effects, and alter neurobiological mechanisms underlying problematic cannabis use are an avenue of needed research. Exercise, particularly resistance exercise, is a behavioral intervention with considerable potential as an adjunctive treatment for CUD.

The aims of this proposal seek to address these issues by implementing acute resistance exercise protocol in men and women who have cannabis use disorder. This proposal will: 1 examine the effect of an acute resistance exercise protocol on affect, stress, and compulsive urge to use in non-treatment seeking young adults with CUD 2.examine whether an acute resistance exercise session in individuals with CUD is associated with induced alterations in the appetitive/ reward hormone ghrelin These findings will inform the further development for exercise interventions for cannabis use disorder that can be used with the aim of supporting individuals with CUD reduce use and decrease the negative effects of withdrawal.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

40

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Gwendolyn Thomas, PhD
  • Phone Number: 8148633172
  • Email: gat112@psu.edu

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 30 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Healthy individuals between the ages of 18-30 years who currently meet for a moderate or severe cannabis use disorder according to DSM-5 criteria.
  2. Untrained (no structured exercise program for at least the previous 6 months) as verified by self-report on a physical activity form.
  3. No previous bone or muscle problems or previous injuries that would prevent free movement about the shoulder, hip, knee or ankle, or increase the risk of discomfort or injury during exercise. No ongoing back problems.
  4. No known endocrine disorders (including, but not limited to Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Hyperparathyroidism, Cushing's Syndrome, Diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome or other inflammatory disorders).
  5. No history of blood clotting disorders.
  6. Able to read English and complete study assessments
  7. Voluntarily provide informed consent and sign the informed consent document.
  8. Able to provide negative toxicology screenings for substances, except for cannabis, at intake.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Meet current criteria for a moderate or severe substance use disorder for any other substance besides cannabis
  2. Have any current psychiatric disorders with acute symptoms (i.e., psychosis, suicidal, homicidal, current mania).
  3. Younger or older than the specified age range of 18-30.
  4. Any endocrine, bone, muscle problems, previous injuries, back problems, or blood clotting disorders.
  5. Cardiac and severe respiratory illnesses (i.e. arrhythmias, enlarged heart, COPD) -

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise Condition
Participants will undergo a 40 minute exercise protocol
Behavioral: Exercise
Participants will complete an acute exercise visit.
Active Comparator: Video Control Condition
Participants will view a 40 minute nature video
Behavioral: Video Control
Participants will complete a video control visit.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cannabis Craving
Time Frame: change from baseline
Craving Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) The 45-item MCQ is a multi-dimensional questionnaire that assesses marijuana craving. It is based on the the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire and uses items that touch on four specific constructs characterizing craving for marijuana: (1) compulsivity, an inability to control marijuana use; (2) emotionality, use of marijuana in anticipation of relief from withdrawal or negative mood; (3) expectancy, anticipation of positive outcomes from smoking marijuana; and (4) purposefulness, intention and planning to use marijuana for positive outcomes. Each item is rated on a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from "strongly agree to strongly disagree"
change from baseline
Cannabis Craving
Time Frame: Change from baseline
Total Ghrelin as measured by 0.5mL plasma
Change from baseline
Cannibis Consumption
Time Frame: change from Baseline
endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA)
change from Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Penn State University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Anticipated)

February 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

August 31, 2023

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 11, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 7, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

March 8, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 20, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 19, 2023

Last Verified

January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 12345 (Danish Center for Healthcare Improvements)

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

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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