Brain scans may help tailor cocaine addiction treatment for veterans
NCT ID NCT03799341
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether brain signals and thinking skills can predict how well Veterans with cocaine addiction respond to a behavioral therapy called contingency management. In this therapy, patients earn chances to win prizes for providing cocaine-free urine samples. The goal was to understand why some people benefit more than others and to help personalize treatment. The study involved 63 Veterans and measured brain activity before and during treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Prize-Based Contingency Management (a behavioral therapy where patients earn chances to win prizes for cocaine-free urine tests)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors match Veterans with the most effective version of contingency management therapy for cocaine addiction, improving recovery rates.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study (63 participants) focused on measuring brain activity, not testing a new treatment. Results may not apply to all people with cocaine use disorder.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15240, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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