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Neurocognitive Abnormalities in Stimulant Abuse Among High-Risk Women

Who can join

Ages 18 to 70 · Women · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Biological sex is female
* Intelligence Quotient 70 or higher
* Reading level 5th grade or higher
* Able to speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

* Uncorrectable auditory or visual deficits
* Currently pregnant
* MRI contraindication
* Central nervous system disease
* Current major medical condition
* Hypertension with complications (e.g., stroke)
* Diabetes with complications
* Lifetime history of psychotic disorder
* Self-report of psychotic disorder (with psychiatric hospitalization) in first degree relative
* Drug use in past three months

(Healthy controls only):

* History of arrest
* Substance use beyond light alcohol or marijuana use
* Currently taking psychotropic medications

About the study

Substance use disorders and psychopathy are serious and costly mental health issues. Psychopathy is known to be associated with aberrant moral decision making and there is considerable interest in determining whether substance use disorders lead to impairments in these same cognitive processes. Recent large-scale research initiatives in forensic settings have begun to identify substance abuse and psychopathy-related disruption in the neural mechanisms involved in moral decision-making processes, and associations between these neural networks and future relapse and antisocial behavior. Here the investigators extend prior work (with incarcerated men) to examine these issues among incarcerated women in order to better understand sex differences. This project addresses the overall lack of neurocognitive research in criminal offenders with substance use disorders, thereby focusing on a major public health issue in an underserved and understudied population.

What is being tested

• Decision task (other)

Sponsor: The Mind Research Network · Participants: 334 · Started: Aug 1, 2022

Contact the study team

• Carla Harenski · Phone: 505-272-5028

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05845333

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.