Examination of the effects of cannabidiol on menstrual-related symptoms.

Some individuals attempt to alleviate menstrual-related symptoms (MRS) by using cannabis and report having expectations that cannabis can improve MRS; however, no study has examined the effect of cannabinoids on MRS. The present study is a pre-post, randomized, open-label trial that aimed to examine the effects of oral cannabidiol (CBD) isolate for alleviating MRS. Participants were assigned randomly to one of two open-label dosing groups of CBD softgels (160 mg twice a day, BID, n = 17; 320 mg BID, n = 16) and completed a 1-month baseline period. Following baseline, participants were instructed to consume CBD starting the first day they believed they experienced symptoms each month and to take their assigned dose daily for 5 consecutive days for three CBD-consumption months. We examined differences in MRS and related outcomes between baseline and 3 months of CBD consumption. Results revealed reductions (in both dosing groups) in MRS, irritability, anxiety, global impression of change, stress, and subjective severity scores when comparing baseline to all 3 months of CBD consumption. Depression scores did not change in either dosing group. Findings suggest that CBD may have the potential for managing MRS. Importantly, changes in symptoms appeared in the first month of CBD consumption and persisted over the 3 consumption months. Further research is warranted comparing the effects of CBD to placebo (a limitation of the study) and examining the potential to optimize CBD consumption for reducing MRS (e.g., combining CBD with terpenes; varying routes and timing of administration). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

An exploratory factor analysis of an e-CHUG drinking motives scale with mandated students.

OBJECTIVE: Colleges maintain alcohol policies in response to student alcohol misuse, and sanctions for violating these policies often mandate students to attend alcohol education and/or counseling (Anderson & Gadaleto, 2021). Electronic Checkup to Go (e-CHUG) is a widely used online motivational intervention program that provides feedback to college students to encourage them to alter their drinking behaviors (eCheckup to Go, 2021). While measures included in e-CHUG have clear clinical utility, their psychometric properties have not been evaluated. The present study was designed to evaluate the factor structure and validity of the 18-item drinking motives scale included in the intervention. METHOD: Participants were 3,546 students from a large public university who were mandated to complete e-CHUG (58% male, MAge = 19.06, SDAge = 1.35) between 2013 and 2021. Students completed a battery of measures, including questions regarding alcohol consumption, drinking motives and consequences, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). RESULTS: An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to investigate the structure of the drinking motives scale. Two factors were retained: The first factor represented coping motives, and the second factor represented a mixture of enhancement and social motives. Hierarchical regression analyses explored the associations between the retained drinking motives factors and alcohol-related variables. Both coping motives and enhancement/social motives positively and uniquely predicted drinking consequences and AUDIT scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for the construct and incremental validity of e-CHUG's drinking motives measure and could have important implications for the consideration of drinking motives during e-CHUG interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Test of the Effects of Cannabidiol on Experiences of Test Anxiety Among College Students.

Introduction: Oral administration of cannabidiol (CBD) has shown to yield a variety of therapeutic benefits among humans, particularly regarding symptoms of anxiety. This study tested single oral administration doses of CBD (150, 300, or 600 mg), compared to placebo, for reducing test anxiety (TA) in a researcher-derived experimental analog. Method: Our sample included 32 healthy college students who self-reported moderate-to-severe levels of TA. Participants attended an experimental session, and received a dose of CBD or placebo, in a double-blind procedure. After administration of CBD, participants completed a statistics examination and measures of TA and general anxiety during examination administration. Results: Results indicated no effect of CBD dose on self-reported TA or general anxiety; however, results indicated efficacy of our experimental manipulation for inducing TA in vivo. Discussion: This is the first study to demonstrate that CBD does not reduce experiences of TA, and future work may examine the underlying mechanisms and affective states related to anxiety for which CBD may offer anxiolytic benefits, and for whom.

An investigation of the reinforcing value of video game playing relative to concurrently available monetary alternatives.

OBJECTIVE: Video game playing (VGP) has received recent attention as a result of sharing many similarities with other addictive behaviors. Behavioral economic models are commonly used to understand drug use and other addictive behaviors and may similarly inform conceptual models of VGP. METHOD: The present study employed behavioral economic principles to conceptualize relative reinforcing value for playing video games compared to concurrently available alternative potential monetary reinforcers. Participants (N = 81) played three video games picked to represent games of low, medium, and high quality (i.e., OutDrive, Forza Motorsport 1, and Forza Motorsport 7), with quality designations based on the research teams' assessment of various features of the game (e.g., graphics, sound, immersion) as well as the game's market value at the time the study was conducted. Participants played each game for 10 min and completed Visual Analog Scales and a multiple-choice procedure (MCP) designed to assess relative reinforcing value at various time points during and after each session. RESULTS: As hypothesized, both subjective ratings and relative reinforcing value increased as the designated quality of the game increased. More specifically, the high-quality game was rated as more fun and likable and had a higher MCP crossover point than the medium and low-quality games. CONCLUSIONS: Like other behavioral addiction studies, results suggest that methodologies and behavioral measures commonly used in drug administration literature can be effectively applied to VGP. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Effects of Alcohol Priming on the Subsequent Value of Alcohol.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has investigated the effects of substance priming (i.e., substance exposure or preload) on the subsequent value of alcohol. Studies suggest that substance priming may serve as a cue, resulting in increased desire for the substance or drug-related behavior; however, results have been inconsistent. The current studies aimed to examine the effects of a priming dose of alcohol, compared with placebo, on the relative reinforcing effects of subsequent alcohol. METHOD: Undergraduate students (Study 1: N = 46 [33 women]; Study 2: N = 69 [50 women]) completed the Multiple Choice Procedure (MCP) during individual, lab-based sessions. The MCP was used to assess the relative reinforcing value of alcohol compared with concurrently available alternatives. Study 1 compared a standard dose of alcohol (one standard drink) with placebo, and Study 2 compared g/kg dosing of alcohol (controlling for gender) with placebo. RESULTS: Data revealed no statistically significant priming effect of alcohol on the subsequent value of alcohol in either study. CONCLUSIONS: The conditions under which alcohol priming does (and does not) occur are still not fully understood, and further systematic work is necessary to determine potential clinical utility.