Gabapentin Treatment of Cannabis Dependence

描述(申请人提供)：大麻依赖是一个主要的公共卫生问题。治疗效果有限，其中一个原因可能是未能解决大麻戒断的急性和长期症状，如负面情绪状态和睡眠障碍，这可能会促使过度使用大麻。此外，大量使用和戒除大麻会损害认知功能，从而干扰认知疗法的参与。加巴喷丁(Neurontin)是伽马氨基丁酸(GABA)的烷基化类似物，市场上用于治疗癫痫和疼痛。过量使用和戒断大麻被认为是杏仁核中央核神经元功能失调，导致大脑情绪和动机系统失调。评估加巴喷丁作为大麻依赖治疗方法的关键原理是，它能够使杏仁核中GABA机制的功能正常化，从而恢复大脑情绪机制中的动态平衡，而情绪机制在大麻戒断时变得失调，并促使过度使用。一项探索性项目(R21DA020766)发现，与安慰剂相比，加巴喷丁显著减少了大麻依赖受试者的急性和持久的大麻戒断和过度使用症状，并改善了睡眠、情绪和认知功能。这项第二阶段研究的目的是在这些试点数据的基础上，在一项动力充足的随机安慰剂对照试验中评估加巴喷丁作为治疗大麻依赖的潜在药物疗法的有效性。基本假设是加巴喷丁将减少大麻戒断症状，特别是对睡眠的影响，并比安慰剂显著减少过度使用。另一个假设是，通过影响大麻的戒断和使用，加巴喷丁将减少与大麻有关的认知功能损害。受试者将是150名目前患有DSM IV大麻依赖的门诊患者，随机进入为期12周的双盲安慰剂对照试验，每天服用灵活的目标剂量加巴喷丁1200 mg。与此同时，所有受试者将接受动机增强疗法(访视-1和0)以促进戒烟，并接受认知行为疗法(访视1-12)以支持戒烟。治疗后评估将在第13周进行，以核实任何副作用的解决和任何反弹效应的观察。大麻使用的疗效终点来自Timeline Followback访谈，并每周进行尿毒学确认。每周使用大麻戒断检查表(MWC)、大麻渴求问卷、状态-特质焦虑问卷、贝克抑郁问卷、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数和运动监测手表评估与大麻有关的戒断症状。参与者将在基线、第4周和第12周接受认知测试。鉴于大麻依赖的普遍性和缺乏有效的药物疗法，开发加巴喷丁作为大麻依赖的药物疗法可能会对公众健康产生重大好处。 公共卫生相关性：大麻依赖是一个主要的公共卫生问题。治疗的效果有限，其中一个原因可能是未能解决大麻戒断的急性和长期症状，如消极的情绪状态和睡眠障碍，这可能与过度使用有关。根据一项较小规模的试点研究的积极结果，结果将提供关于加巴喷丁(Neurontin)作为一种药物疗法在降低大麻依赖患者的大麻戒断严重程度和过度使用大麻方面的疗效的信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cannabis dependence is a major public health problem. Treatments are of limited efficacy and one reason may be a failure to address both acute and protracted symptoms of cannabis withdrawal, such as negative emotional states and sleep disturbance, which may motivate excessive use. In addition, heavy cannabis use and withdrawal can impair cognitive functioning and thereby interfere with participation in cognitive therapies. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an alkylated analog of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) marketed for management of epilepsy and pain. Excessive cannabis use and withdrawal are hypothesized to dysregulate neuronal function in the central nucleus of the amygdala, resulting in dysregulation of brain emotional and motivational systems. The key rationale for evaluating gabapentin as a treatment for cannabis dependence is its ability to normalize function in GABA mechanisms in the amygdala, thereby restoring homeostasis in the brain's emotional mechanisms that become dysregulated in cannabis withdrawal and motivate excessive use. An exploratory project (R21DA020766) found gabapentin significantly reduced acute and protracted symptoms of cannabis withdrawal and excessive use, and improved sleep, mood, and cognitive functioning relative to placebo in cannabis dependent subjects. The purpose of this Phase II study is to build on these pilot data and evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin as a potential pharmacotherapy for cannabis dependence in an adequately powered, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The primary hypotheses are that gabapentin will decrease symptoms of cannabis withdrawal, specifically affect and sleep, and decrease excessive use significantly more than placebo. A further hypothesis is that, through its effects on cannabis withdrawal and use, gabapentin will decrease cannabis-related impairment in cognitive functioning. Subjects will be 150 outpatients with current DSM IV cannabis dependence randomized to a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a flexible targeted dose of gabapentin 1200 mg/d. Concomitantly, all subjects will receive motivation enhancement therapy (Visits -1 and 0) to facilitate abstinence, and cognitive behavioral therapy (Visits 1-12) to support abstinence. Post-treatment assessments will occur at Week 13 to verify resolution of any side effects and observance of any rebound effects. Efficacy endpoints for cannabis use are derived from the Timeline Followback Interview, with weekly urine toxicology confirmation. Cannabis-related withdrawal symptoms are assessed weekly with the Marijuana Withdrawal Checklist (MWC), Marijuana Craving Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and actigraphy watches. Participants will receive cognitive testing at baseline, Week 4 and Week 12. Given the prevalence of cannabis dependence and the lack of effective pharmacotherapies, the development of gabapentin as a pharmacotherapy for cannabis dependence may have major public health benefits. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Cannabis dependence is a major public health problem. Treatments are of limited efficacy and one reason may be a failure to address both acute and protracted symptoms of cannabis withdrawal, such as negative emotional states and sleep disturbance, which may be associated with excessive use. Building on positive findings from a smaller pilot study, results will provide information about the efficacy of gabapentin (Neurontin) as a pharmacotherapy for reducing cannabis withdrawal severity and excessive cannabis use in individuals with cannabis dependence.