Targeting White Matter Neuroprotection as a Relapse Prevention Strategy for Treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder: Design of a Mechanism-Focused Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors

Joy M Schmitz
Scott D Lane
Michael F Weaver
Ponnada A Narayana
Khader M Hasan
DeLisa D Russell
Robert Suchting
Charles E Green

Publication Date

12-1-2021

Journal

Contemporary Clinical Trais

Abstract

Cocaine use continues to be a significant public health problem with limited treatment options and no approved pharmacotherapies. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) remains the mainstay treatment for preventing relapse, however, people with chronic cocaine use display cognitive impairments that are associated with poor response to CBT. Emerging evidence in animal and human studies suggests that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR- γ) agonist, pioglitazone, improves white matter integrity that is essential for cognitive function. This project will determine whether adjunctive use of pioglitazone enhances the effect of CBT in preventing relapse during the early phase of recovery from cocaine use disorder. This paper describes the design of a mechanism-focused phase 2 randomized clinical trial that aims first to evaluate the effects of pioglitazone on targeted mechanisms related to white matter integrity, cognitive function, and cocaine craving; and second, to evaluate the extent to which improvements on target mechanisms predict CBT response. Positive results will support pioglitazone as a potential cognitive enhancing agent to advance to later stage medication development research.

Keywords

Cocaine use disorder, pioglitazone, white matter integrity, randomized clinical trial, relapse prevention

Comments

Supplementary Materials

PMID: 34688917