NCT02237677

CB1 Receptor PET Imaging Reveals Gender Differences in PTSD

Cannabinoid-1 (CB1) Receptor Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Reveals Gender Differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 36 (actual)
• Sponsor: NYU Langone Health · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The objective of the proposed translational study is to test a model, based upon basic science studies, exploring multisystem impairments in PTSD including endocannabinoid (eCB) and glucocorticoids in the modulation of fear memories by examining the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor in a PTSD fear circuit as well as glucocorticoid function. The investigators propose that impaired eCB signaling in PTSD resulting in the maladaptive neurobehavioral response to the stressor is associated with an upregulation of the CB1 receptors and insufficient glucocorticoid signaling.

Detailed description

The eCB - anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) - and their attending cannabinoid (CB) receptors which are found in high densities in a fear circuitry involving the amygdala, hippocampus, the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex serve important functions in the regulation of stress-coping behaviors. Besides eCB regulation there is strong evidence from ongoing research of the investigators group and others suggesting an important role for glucocorticoid signaling as an endpoint of the biochemical sequelae initiated by stressful or aversive stimuli. One of the long-term research goals of our lab is to understand such functions and determine their relevance to the pathogenesis of PTSD and to provide a more integrative view on neurobiological mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of the neuroadaptive response to stress. The objective of the proposed translational study is to test a model, based upon basic science studies, exploring multisystem impairments in PTSD including eCB and glucocorticoids in the modulation of fear memories by examining the CB1 receptor in a PTSD fear circuit as well as glucocorticoid function. The investigators propose that impaired eCB signaling in PTSD resulting in the maladaptive neurobehavioral response to the stressor is associated with an upregulation of the CB1 receptors and insufficient glucocorticoid signaling.

Conditions

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging	Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-06-01
• Primary completion: 2016-03-01
• Completion: 2016-03-01
• First posted: 2014-09-11
• Last updated: 2016-08-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States