NCT01253421

The Effects of Dopamine on Reward Processing

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 159 (actual)
• Sponsor: Mclean Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a single low dose of the D2/D3 antagonist amisulpride on reward processing. More generally, this study will test the role of dopamine (a naturally occurring brain chemical) in depression. Hypotheses: Administration of a single low dose of the D2/D3 antagonist amisulpride will (1) improve performance in a behavioral task assessing learning from feedback and (2) boost activation in reward-related brain regions.

Detailed description

Through an integration of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approach coupled with a pharmacological challenge, the goal of the current study will be to investigate the role of dopamine in MDD. Participants in this research will include 36 MDD subjects and 36 demographically matched healthy participants recruited from the community by Dr. Pizzagalli's laboratory at McLean Hospital's Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research. This study will include two sessions: * The first session will involve a diagnostic interview, and a series of questionnaires and assessments. * The second session will take place at the McLean Hospital's Neuroimaging Center, and include the administration of a low-dose of amisulpride (50 mg capsule) or placebo, followed by an fMRI brain scan and administration of two behavioral tasks.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	amisulpride	single low-dose pharmacological challenge, 50 mg amisulpride
DRUG	placebo	single-dose placebo capsule

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-02-01
• Primary completion: 2016-05-01
• Completion: 2016-05-01
• First posted: 2010-12-03
• Last updated: 2018-04-27
• Results posted: 2018-01-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study