Digital Commons Network^™

Verbal Memory Performance And Reduced Cortical Thickness Of Brain Regions Along The Uncinate Fasciculus In Young Adult Cannabis Users, Nina Levar, Alan N. Francis, Matthew J. Smith, Wilson C. Ho, Jodi M. Gilman

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Introduction: Memory impairment is one of the most commonly reported effects of cannabis use, especially among those who initiate use earlier, perhaps due to the effects of delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol on cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in the brain. Studies have increasingly investigated whether cannabis use is associated with impairments in verbal memory, and with alterations in brain structures underlying verbal memory. The uncinate fasciculus (UF), a long-range white matter tract, connects regions with densely localized CB1 receptors that are important in verbal memory. This study investigated the impact of cannabis use on UF structures and its association with memory performance in young …

Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement For Chronic Pain And Prescription Opioid Misuse: Results From An Early Stage Randomized Controlled Trial, Eric L. Garland, Eron G. Manusov, Brett Froeliger, Amber Kelly, Jaclyn M. Williams, Matthew O. Howard

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Objective: Opioid pharmacotherapy is now the leading treatment for chronic pain, a problem that affects nearly one third of the U.S. population. Given the dramatic rise in prescription opioid misuse and opioid-related mortality, novel behavioral interventions are needed. The purpose of this study was to conduct an early-stage randomized controlled trial of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), a multimodal intervention designed to simultaneously target mechanisms underpinning chronic pain and opioid misuse.

Method: Chronic pain patients (N = 115; mean age = 48 ± 14 years; 68% female) were randomized to 8 weeks of MORE or a support group (SG). Outcomes were …