title: Vilazodone for cannabis dependence: A randomized, controlled pilot trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vilazodone, a selective serotonin receptor inhibitor and partial 5-HT1A agonist, for treatment of cannabis dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six cannabis-dependent adults were randomized to receive either up to 40 mg/day of vilazodone (n = 41) or placebo (n = 35) for 8 weeks combined with a brief motivational enhancement therapy intervention and contingency management to encourage study retention. Cannabis use outcomes were assessed via weekly urine cannabinoid tests; secondary outcomes included cannabis use self-report and cannabis craving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in both groups reported reduced self-reported cannabis use over the course of the study; however, vilazodone provided no advantage over placebo in reducing cannabis use. Men had significantly lower creatinine-adjusted cannabinoid levels and a trend for increased negative urine cannabinoid tests than women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vilazodone was not more efficacious than placebo in reducing cannabis use. Important gender differences were noted, with women having worse cannabis use outcomes than men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further medication development efforts for cannabis use disorders are needed, and gender should be considered as an important variable in future trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Aimee L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McRae-Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Nathaniel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Killeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.|Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hartwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Simonian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D062405:Motivational Interviewing; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069503:Vilazodone Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069503:Vilazodone Hydrochloride