Understanding how cannabis use affects reward processing in depressed adolescents
Official title: Reward Function in Adolescents with Depression and Cannabis Use
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-10888341 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using cannabis might affect the way teenagers with depression experience rewards in their brains, and it's for young people who want to understand more about how these two issues are connected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 15, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $53,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F30DA056227-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10888341 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are experiencing depression and have a history of cannabis use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use cannabis or are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between adolescent depression and cannabis use, focusing on how these factors influence reward processing in the brain. By utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the study aims to identify the neural mechanisms underlying reward dysfunction in adolescents who use cannabis. The research seeks to fill a gap in existing literature, as most studies on adolescent depression have excluded cannabis users, thereby providing new insights into the cognitive and behavioral consequences of this comorbidity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for adolescents struggling with depression and cannabis use.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been limited research specifically addressing this comorbidity, studies on reward dysfunction in depression have shown promising results, indicating that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Tram Ngoc Bao — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Tram Ngoc Bao
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how cannabis use and genes change the brain to increase depression risk
A research project at Yale is exploring how cannabis use might change specific brain cells and genes, potentially making people more vulnerable to depression.
-
Advancing Pregnenolone as a Therapy for Cannabis Use Disorder with Depression
A study tests pregnenolone as a therapy for adults who have both cannabis use disorder and depression and aims to reduce cannabis use and improve mood.
-
How gene changes tied to cannabis use and depression affect the brain
This project looks for molecular changes in brain tissue from people with cannabis use disorder or major depression to link cannabis exposure with biological changes that may raise depression risk.
-
Understanding how cannabis use affects depression in young people living with HIV.
This study is looking at how using cannabis might affect feelings of depression in young adults aged 18-34 who are living with HIV, and it aims to understand how this relates to the way the brain processes rewards and pain, which could help find better ways to treat depression.
-
How cannabis use affects brain changes linked to depression
This study is looking at how using cannabis might affect the brain and contribute to major depression, by comparing brain samples from people who use cannabis, those with depression, and those without any issues, to better understand the changes that happen in the brain.
-
Understanding how depression and cannabis use affect brain circuits in young people with HIV
A study with young adults living with HIV looks at how depression and cannabis use relate to brain reward and pain circuits and how these changes might affect treatment adherence.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.