Adverse Adolescent Pathways to Substance Use
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Summary
Purpose: This 5-year R01 study will elucidate the role of maturational change across adolescence in neural connectivity and physiological stress responses in the relationship between anxiety and adverse pathways to substance use (APSU). Participants: Children (N=200) aged 12-14 with symptoms of anxiety and their legal caregiver will be recruited from clinical and community sources. Procedures: Youth participants will complete several questionnaires and interviews, undergo neuroimaging while performing cognitive tasks, and have their heart rate and skin conductance monitored during a mildly stressful task. Caregivers will complete several questionnaires.
Description
The conceptual model proposes that the relationship between anxiety symptomatology and Adverse Patterns of Substance Use (APSU: age of onset, cumulative exposure, severity, and polydrug use) is a function of acute stress reactivity that is underpinned by specific neurobiological and neurocognitive factors measurable at a drug- and alcohol-naïve baseline. Youth at high risk for APSU will be over-sampled using parent and child-reported screeners that include items relating to emotion dysregulation, behavioral impulsivity, susceptibility to peer pressure, friends' conduct problems, and other risk…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 12–14 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female * 12-14 years old, * Report symptoms of anxiety * Understand and sign an assent, and parents will sign a permission and a consent document in English * Meets study hearing and vision requirements * Substance use naïve Exclusion Criteria: * Has any foreign metal objects or implants as determined by the safety questionnaires (e.g., bone screws, shunts or body piercing that can't be removed, etc.) * Has been diagnosed with psychosis or a severe emotional disturbance. * Has used alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana more than 3 times. * Is pregnant. Girls who self-…
Interventions
- BehavioralTrier Social Stress Test
Psychosocial stress procedure; 5 minutes of public speaking (preceded by 5 minutes of preparation) and 5 minutes of mental arithmetic.
Location
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of MedicineChapel Hill, North Carolina