NCT06471647

Effects of Drugs on Stress Memories

• Status: Completed
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Chicago · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

There is evidence that cannabinoids, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), reduce responses to acute stress and fear-related stimuli, but few studies have examined the effects of THC on memories of stressful experiences. The researchers hypothesize that THC will attenuate behavioral and physiological responses to negative valence stimuli, including memories of aversive experiences.

Detailed description

The current study will use a between subject, randomized, placebo-controlled design to assess the effects of low doses of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on stress memories. Healthy male and female participants (N=48) will be randomly assigned to one of the three drug conditions (5 mg THC \[n=16\], 10 mg THC \[n=16\], or placebo \[n=16\]). Each subject will participate in 3 sessions. In the first session, they will undergo the TSST procedure. Researchers will obtain ratings of subjective distress, heart rate variability, and cortisol levels to assess response to the stressor for each individual. On the second session, one week later, participants will receive either THC or placebo and they will then be presented with TSST-related cues during a stress-memory retrieval session.

Conditions

• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (5)	5 mg of THC
DRUG	Placebo	Placebo - dextrose
DRUG	delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (10)	10 mg of THC

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-07-01
• Primary completion: 2025-03-25
• Completion: 2025-03-25
• First posted: 2024-06-24
• Last updated: 2025-08-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study