Behavioral Therapy Combined With Carbidopa/Levodopa for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence

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Cocaine dependence is a major public health problem; an effective primary treatment for cocaine dependent individuals has yet to be found. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of levodopa and carbidopa in treating cocaine dependent individuals. In addition, this study will examine the effects of incentive rewards for treatment compliance...

Brief Summary

Official Title: “Behavioral Strategies to Maximize the Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy for Cocaine Dependence: Relapse Prevention With Contingency Management Procedures”

Cocaine dependence is a major public health problem; an effective primary treatment for cocaine dependent individuals has yet to be found. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of levodopa and carbidopa in treating cocaine dependent individuals. In addition, this study will examine the effects of incentive rewards for treatment compliance.

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double-Blind, Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Study Primary Completion Date: October 2007

Detailed Clinical Trial Description

Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is widely abused throughout the United States. Due to its widespread use, it is important to develop an effective treatment for cocaine dependence. Levodopa is a medication that is used alone or in combination with carbidopa to treat Parkinson's disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the possible interactions between behavioral interventions and carbidopa/levodopa in order to treat cocaine dependent individuals.

This study will last 12 weeks and will involve two phases. The first phase will include three therapy conditions: 1) clinical management only, 2) clinical management and relapse prevention therapy, and 3) clinical management, relapse prevention therapy, and contingency management. All of the conditions in the first phase will be evaluated incrementally under active and placebo conditions while participants receive carbidopa/levodopa.

The second phase of the study will examine the contingency management procedure applications. Each of the three contingency management procedure applications targets specific behaviors that, when reinforced, may interact with carbidopa/levodopa to produce clinical benefits. Participants will receive relapse prevention therapy combined with a contingency management procedure that targets clinic attendance, medication compliance, and cocaine abstinence. Study visits will occur weekly throughout the study. In addition, participants will complete a one-year follow-up visit.

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

  • Drug: Levodopa
  • Drug: Carbidopa
  • Behavioral: Clinical Management
  • Behavioral: Relapse Prevention Therapy
  • Behavioral: Contingency Management

Outcome Measures for this Clinical Trial

Primary Measures

  • Cocaine use

Secondary Measures

  • Medication compliance
  • treatment retention
  • severity of addiction-related problems

Criteria for Participation in this Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meets DSM-IV criteria for current cocaine dependence
  • Provides at least one positive urine test for cocaine during study screening
  • Good general health, based on a physical exam, lab tests, and an electrocardiogram
  • Reads and writes English at a sixth grade level

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current Axis I depressive, psychotic, or anxiety disorder
  • Currently in jail
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Requires certain medications

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 18 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 55 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Clinical Trial Investigator Information

Lead Investigator: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) NIH

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

John Grabowski, PhD Principal Investigator University of Texas  

Additional Information

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 09, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00218075

Study ID Number: NIDA-09262-9

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00218075

Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

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The URL of this page is:
http://clinicaltrialsfeeds.org/clinical-trials/show/NCT00218075