A preliminary investigation of the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on pain and opioid attentional bias among persons with opioid use disorder.
Noah R Wolkowicz, Mehmet Sofuoglu, Brian Pittman, Julia Meyerovich, R Ross Maclean, Joao P De Aquino
Journal of Psychiatric Research September 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.06.047 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 27 |
| Population | Adults with opioid use disorder receiving methadone maintenance treatment |
| Dose | 10 mg, 20 mg |
| Duration | Three 5-hour sessions |
| Measures | visual probe task |
| Topics | Addiction Cannabis |
| Key findings | THC produced dose-dependent effects on attentional bias toward opioid cues in methadone patients, increasing bias after 10 mg and decreasing it after 20 mg among those on high methadone doses. |
Abstract
Attentional bias (AB) is believed to be an important factor in the development and maintenance of both opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain. Cannabis and its main psychoactive constituent, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produce analgesic effects via processes that are potentially relevant to AB and is commonly used by persons with OUD. This exploratory study investigated if THC influences AB towards pain and opioid cues individuals with OUD. Using a within-subject, crossover design, 27 adults receiving methadone were randomly assigned to receive single doses of oral THC (10 mg, 20 mg administered as dronabinol) or placebo across three, 5-h sessions. During each session, a visual probe task was used to measure AB to pain and opioid cues at baseline and 120 min post-THC administration. Mixed-effects models examined main effects of THC dose, time, and their interaction across all participants; findings were then stratified by methadone dose (low dose <90 mg/day and high dose ≥90 mg/day). Among individuals receiving high doses of methadone, a significant interaction was observed such that AB towards opioids increased following 10 mg THC administration and decreased following 20 mg THC administration. Additionally, participants receiving low doses of methadone showed significant increases in the variability of opioid-related AB post THC administration. We provide preliminary evidence showing that THC may cause dose-dependent effects on selective attention for opioid cues among methadone patients. These results underscore the need for further clinical investigation into the effects of cannabinoids and other substances with potential analgesic and addictive properties among persons with OUD.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on cannabis for addiction, most cited first.