A Pilot Study Found People With Cannabis Use Disorder Have Blunted Pleasure Responses That Could Be Targeted by Scripted Imagery
In a small pilot study, adults with cannabis use disorder showed blunted positive affect under neutral conditions compared to controls, and personalized scripted imagery was able to elicit positive emotional responses, suggesting a potential tool for treating reward dysfunction.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CUD participants showed blunted positive affect response to neutral scripts relative to reward scripts (P=0.01). Galvanic skin response was also decreased in neutral vs. reward conditions in CUD (P=0.034). Cortisol was positively correlated with positive affect in controls but not CUD participants (P=0.036). Personalized scripted imagery successfully generated positive emotional responses in CUD participants.
Key Numbers
N=22 (10 CUD, 12 controls). Condition x Group interaction on positive affect: P=0.01. GSR: P=0.034. Group x PA interaction on cortisol: P=0.036.
How They Did This
Pilot study comparing CUD adults (n=10) and non-CUD controls (n=12) in a single-session personalized scripted imagery procedure. Natural reward and neutral scripts presented in counterbalanced order. Outcomes: positive affect, galvanic skin response, and cortisol at four timepoints.
Why This Research Matters
Hedonic dysregulation (blunted pleasure from natural rewards) is a core mechanism of addiction but has been understudied in CUD specifically. If scripted imagery can remediate this, it could become a non-pharmacological treatment tool for cannabis addiction.
The Bigger Picture
Most addiction treatment focuses on reducing drug craving, but this study targets the flip side: enhancing the ability to feel pleasure from non-drug rewards. If CUD reduces the brain's capacity for natural reward, restoring that capacity could reduce the pull toward cannabis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample (n=22). Single session. No follow-up to assess lasting effects. Cannot determine whether blunted affect preceded or resulted from CUD. Pilot design not powered for definitive conclusions.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would repeated scripted imagery sessions improve hedonic functioning over time in CUD?
- ?Could this approach be combined with standard CUD treatment for better outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- People with CUD showed blunted positive affect under neutral conditions
- Evidence Grade:
- Very small pilot study (n=22). Establishes proof of concept only.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2023.
- Original Title:
- Restructuring reward: A pilot study to enhance natural reward response in adults with cannabis use disorder.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 249, 110830 (2023)
- Authors:
- Sherman, Brian J(7), Brasher, Zoe E, Baker, Nathaniel L(12), McRae-Clark, Aimee L, Froeliger, Brett E
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04933
Evidence Hierarchy
A small preliminary study to test whether a larger study is feasible.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis addiction affect the ability to feel pleasure?
In this pilot study, people with cannabis use disorder showed blunted positive emotional responses under neutral conditions compared to non-users, consistent with hedonic dysregulation.
Can imagery exercises help cannabis addiction?
Personalized scripted imagery successfully generated positive emotional responses in this small study. Whether repeated sessions could improve reward functioning in CUD requires further research.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04933APA
Sherman, Brian J; Brasher, Zoe E; Baker, Nathaniel L; McRae-Clark, Aimee L; Froeliger, Brett E. (2023). Restructuring reward: A pilot study to enhance natural reward response in adults with cannabis use disorder.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 249, 110830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110830
MLA
Sherman, Brian J, et al. "Restructuring reward: A pilot study to enhance natural reward response in adults with cannabis use disorder.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110830
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Restructuring reward: A pilot study to enhance natural rewar..." RTHC-04933. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/sherman-2023-restructuring-reward-a-pilot
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.