Oxytocin and Brain Responses in Maternal Addiction

This is an interventional basic science trial for Maternal Behavior focused on measuring maternal drug addiction, mother-infant attachment, intranasal oxytocin, unresolved trauma, maternal brain responses, mother-infant synchrony Read More

Inclusion Criteria for addiction sample:

Drug-addicted subjects will be English speaking adult women who:

1. are being evaluated for treatment of their addiction or are currently enrolled in treatment programs;
2. have an infant <12 months;
3. meet criteria for substance abuse or dependence in the past year, as assessed by MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI);
4. have a substance abuse history, including use during the most recent pregnancy;
5. are recommended at intake for drug-treatment services for substance abuse;
6. are 18 years to 40 years old; and
7. have been speaking English or enrolled in English-speaking school since age 8.

Inclusion Criteria for non-addicted mothers (controls):

Control subjects will be English-speaking adult women who:

1. have an infant <12 months of age;
2. do not meet criteria for past or present drug abuse or dependence;
3. are 18 years to 40 years old; and
4. have been speaking English or enrolled in English-speaking school since age 8.

Exclusion Criteria for addiction sample:

Potential drug-addicted subjects will be ineligible if they have:

1. severe psychiatric or substance-related symptoms requiring in-patient psychiatric hospitalization or detoxification for suicidality, homicidality, grave disability, physiological alcohol or drug withdrawal within the last 30 days;
2. past or present diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders;
3. metal implants or other contraindications for MRI scanning;
4. pending legal cases (e.g., outstanding arrest warrants or parental rights hearings) prohibiting them from completing the study;
5. current pregnancy or plans to become pregnant during the course of the study;
6. infants with clinical evidence of in utero drug effects, such as opiate withdrawal symptoms during the neonatal period, facial dysmorphism or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or microcephaly;
7. infants with birth weight less than 3 lb. 5 oz.;
8. infants who have significant vision, hearing or motor problems (such as cerebral palsy) that cannot be corrected;
9. mothers who have significant vision or hearing problems that cannot be corrected;
10. out-of-home placement of infant for the past month or more than 50% of child's life;
11. delivered more than one baby during most recent pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.).
12. exclusively breastfeeding

Exclusion criteria for non-addicted mothers:

Potential control subjects will be ineligible if they have:

1. positive drug toxicology screen at any point in the study;
2. drug abuse or dependence based on MINI in the past year or lifetime;
3. use of tobacco products in the past 2 years;
4. current hazardous alcohol use as ascertained by AUDIT score > 8;
5. present or past history of ambulatory detoxification;
6. severe psychiatric symptoms requiring inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for suicidality, homicidality, grave disability, physiological alcohol or drug withdrawal within the past 30 days;
7. past or present diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders;
8. metal implants or other contraindications for MRI scanning;
9. current pregnancy or plans to become pregnant during the course of the study;
10. infants with birth weight less than 3 lb. 5 oz.;
11. infants who have significant vision, hearing or motor problems that cannot be corrected (such as cerebral palsy);
12. mothers who have significant vision or hearing problems that cannot be corrected;
13. out-of-home placement of infant for the past month or more than 50% of child's life; and
14. delivered more than one baby during most recent pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.).
15. exclusively breastfeeding