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Understanding Brain Function in Women with Stimulant Abuse and Criminal Behavior

This study is looking at how stimulant abuse and criminal behavior affect brain function in women. Researchers want to understand if these conditions impact how women make decisions, especially moral decisions. You might be able to join if you are a woman between 18 and 70 years old, have an IQ of 70 or higher, can read at a 5th-grade level or above, and speak English. During the study, participants will complete decision-making tasks while having an MRI scan (a test that uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of organs and structures inside your body). The study aims to measure brain gray matter volume, white matter integrity, and how the brain responds during these tasks to better understand the link between stimulant use and brain activity. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an observational study, meaning researchers will observe participants without providing any specific intervention beyond the decision task. The study plans to include 334 women.
What's involved
Participants will complete a simple and/or moral decision-making functional MRI task during an MRI procedure.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoints (gray matter volume, white matter integrity, and functional brain response) are measured during the MRI procedure.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05845333

Neurocognitive Abnormalities in Stimulant Abuse Among High-Risk Women

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18–70Observational
The Mind Research Network
~334 participants
Updated 2025-05-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Decision task

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Gray matter volume during MRI scan & stimulant use
Measured over During MRI procedure
+21 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Stimulant Abuse
Criminal Behavior

Explore related trials

Criminal BehaviorHarmful pattern of use of stimulant

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New Mexico1

Who to contact

Carla Harenski
[email protected]
505-272-5028
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Biological sex is female
Intelligence Quotient 70 or higher
Reading level 5th grade or higher
Able to speak and understand English

Exclusion

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

What this trial measures

  • Gray matter volume during MRI scan & stimulant useDuring MRI procedure

    Gray matter volume (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - Statistical Parametric Mapping/SPM) correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • White matter integrity during MRI scan & stimulant useDuring MRI procedure

    White matter integrity (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain software library (FSL)) correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & stimulant use during simple linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Simple Linguistic Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & stimulant use during simple picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Simple Picture Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & stimulant use during moral linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Moral Linguistic Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & stimulant use during moral picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Moral Picture Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & stimulant use during simple linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT) during Simple Linguistic Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & stimulant use during simple picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT) during Simple Linguistic Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & stimulant use during moral linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT) during Moral Linguistic Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & stimulant use during moral picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT) during Moral Picture Decision Task correlation with stimulant use (assessed using a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index)

  • Gray matter volume during MRI scan & psychopathic traitsDuring MRI procedure

    Gray matter volume (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - Statistical Parametric Mapping/SPM) correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • White matter integrity during MRI scan & psychopathic traitsDuring MRI procedure

    White matter integrity (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain software library (FSL)) correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during simple linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Simple Linguistic Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during simple picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Simple Picture Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during moral linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Moral Linguistic Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional brain response during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during moral picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional brain responses (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent/BOLD) (using relevant MRI analysis platforms - SPM, Group Independent Components Analysis Functional Toolbox/GIFT) during Moral Picture Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during simple linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT) during Simple Linguistic Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during simple picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT)) during Simple Picture Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during moral linguistic decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT) during Moral Linguistic Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Functional connectivity during MRI scan & psychopathic traits during moral picture decision taskDuring MRI procedure

    Functional connectivity (using relevant analysis MRI platforms - GIFT) during Moral Picture Decision Task correlation with psychopathic traits (assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised)

  • Relapse to/change in stimulant use post-releaseEvery 3 months post release for duration of grant (5 years)

    Return to stimulant use (assessed using timeline follow back calendar (TLFB)) post-release from incarceration

  • Return to/change in antisocial behavior post-releaseEvery 3 months post release for duration of grant (5 years)

    Return to antisocial behavior (assessed via self report and/or official records) post-release from incarceration