Neurocognitive Abnormalities in Stimulant Abuse Among High-Risk Women

Description

Substance use disorders and psychopathy are serious and costly mental health issues. Psychopathy is known to be associated with aberrant moral decision making and there is considerable interest in determining whether substance use disorders lead to impairments in these same cognitive processes. Recent large-scale research initiatives in forensic settings have begun to identify substance abuse and psychopathy-related disruption in the neural mechanisms involved in moral decision-making processes, and associations between these neural networks and future relapse and antisocial behavior. Here the investigators extend prior work (with incarcerated men) to examine these issues among incarcerated women in order to better understand sex differences. This project addresses the overall lack of neurocognitive research in criminal offenders with substance use disorders, thereby focusing on a major public health issue in an underserved and understudied population.

Conditions

Stimulant Abuse, Criminal Behavior

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Substance use disorders and psychopathy are serious and costly mental health issues. Psychopathy is known to be associated with aberrant moral decision making and there is considerable interest in determining whether substance use disorders lead to impairments in these same cognitive processes. Recent large-scale research initiatives in forensic settings have begun to identify substance abuse and psychopathy-related disruption in the neural mechanisms involved in moral decision-making processes, and associations between these neural networks and future relapse and antisocial behavior. Here the investigators extend prior work (with incarcerated men) to examine these issues among incarcerated women in order to better understand sex differences. This project addresses the overall lack of neurocognitive research in criminal offenders with substance use disorders, thereby focusing on a major public health issue in an underserved and understudied population.

Neurocognitive Abnormalities in Stimulant Abuse Among High-Risk Women

Neurocognitive Abnormalities in Stimulant Abuse Among High-Risk Women

Condition
Stimulant Abuse
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Albuquerque

The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87106

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.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Biological sex is female
  • * Intelligence Quotient 70 or higher
  • * Reading level 5th grade or higher
  • * Able to speak and understand English
  • * Uncorrectable auditory or visual deficits
  • * Currently pregnant
  • * MRI contraindication
  • * Central nervous system disease
  • * Current major medical condition
  • * Hypertension with complications (e.g., stroke)
  • * Diabetes with complications
  • * Lifetime history of psychotic disorder
  • * Self-report of psychotic disorder (with psychiatric hospitalization) in first degree relative
  • * Drug use in past three months
  • * History of arrest
  • * Substance use beyond light alcohol or marijuana use
  • * Currently taking psychotropic medications

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

The Mind Research Network,

Study Record Dates

2027-05-31