title: Cognitive performance in a placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy trial for youth with marijuana dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescent marijuana use is associated with neurocognitive impairment, but further work is needed to assess the relationship between treatment-associated abstinence and cognitive performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This secondary analysis, conducted in the context of a marijuana cessation pharmacotherapy trial in adolescents, examined cognitive performance at baseline and at two time points during treatment using the CNS Vital Signs assessment battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abstinence from marijuana, relative to continued use, as assessed via urine cannabinoid testing, was associated with significant improvement in composite memory (p<0.001), verbal memory (the most impacted component of composite memory) (p<0.001), and psychomotor performance (p=0.045) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that some domains of cognitive performance improve significantly even in the early stages of treatment-associated abstinence.
authors: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 190, MSC 861, Charleston, SC 29425, United States. Electronic address: rotena@musc.edu.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Roten
authors: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Public Health Sciences, 135 Cannon Street, MSC 835, Charleston, SC 29425, United States.
authors: Nathaniel L
authors: NL
authors: Baker
authors: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 190, MSC 861, Charleston, SC 29425, United States.
authors: Kevin M
authors: KM
authors: Gray
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000652:urine; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Adolescent; Cognition; Cognitive performance; Marijuana; Memory; Youth