Cue-reactivity incubation and cognitive reappraisal in cocaine use disorder

Cognitive Reappraisal for Mitigating Incubation of Cocaine Cue-Reactivity

NA · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NCT07091877

This project will see if practicing cognitive reappraisal reduces cue-triggered brain responses and cravings in people with cocaine use disorder who are early in abstinence.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment252 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (other)
Locations1 site (New York, New York)
Trial IDNCT07091877 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This 5-year longitudinal study will enroll 252 treatment-seeking adults (age 18–65) with DSM-5 cocaine use disorder and will track cue-reactivity using EEG and behavioral markers during early abstinence. Approximately 126 participants will be randomly assigned to repeated cognitive reappraisal tasks while the remainder complete a control cue-reactivity task, with repeated visits to measure change over time. The primary endpoints are time-related changes in brain and behavioral indices with cognitive reappraisal during abstinence, and secondary analyses will examine whether those changes relate to clinical outcomes such as craving and relapse. Testing and EEG sessions will be conducted in person at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are treatment-seeking adults (18–65) with DSM-5 cocaine use disorder who are in early abstinence (<2 months) and are able to complete EEG-based testing and cognitive tasks.

Not a fit: People with recent positive urine drug screens, uncontrolled or disqualifying psychiatric or neurological disorders, or who cannot undergo EEG (for example due to non-removable hair styles preventing electrode contact) may not benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, cognitive reappraisal could reduce cue-driven cravings and dampen brain responses to cocaine cues, potentially lowering relapse risk.

How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and small clinical studies have shown that cognitive reappraisal can reduce cue-elicited craving and alter EEG/fMRI signals in substance use disorders, but large longitudinal randomized evidence specifically in cocaine use disorder is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Ability to understand and give informed consent
* Age 18-65
* DSM-5 Diagnosis of CUD (Cocaine Use Disorder)
* Have appropriate abstinence duration (i.e., \<2 months) at the first visit.
* Must be seeking treatment for CUD (at the first visit)

Exclusion Criteria:

* DSM-5 diagnosis for other psychiatric illnesses (other than mood and anxiety disorders that are highly comorbid with substance use disorders)
* Urine positive for any psychoactive drugs (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis, opiates, benzodiazepines, etc.) at baseline
* Head trauma with loss of consciousness
* History of neurological diseases, including seizures
* Thick and/or non-removable hair braids that present difficulty for EEG electrode-scalp contact

Where this trial is running

New York, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Cocaine Use Disorder, Cocaine, Craving, EEG, Cue-reactivity, Cognitive reappraisal, Incubation

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.