Hormones and Decision Making

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Dyssocial Behavior
• Interventions: Drug: 0.5% cholorbutanol, saline; Drug: testosterone propionate

• Registration Number: NCT04865562
• Lead Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Brief Summary

An investigation of the neuropsychological processes underlying ethical decision making.

Detailed Description

This study will investigate the influence of reward sensitivity on cheating behavior via experimental manipulation of reward sensitivity using testosterone.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2015-02-09
• Study Start: 2015-03-01
• Primary Completion: 2016-05-01
• Study Completion: 2016-09-01
• Status Verified: 2021-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-04-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-04-28
• Study First Posted: 2021-04-29
• Last Update Posted: 2021-04-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• males between 18 and 25

Exclusion Criteria

• recruitment will be limited to male participants between 18 and 25 years who have no current conditions that would preclude the use of testosterone. Specific exclusion criteria are:
• women of all ages
• males younger than 18 years and older than 25 years
• self-report discomfort with ingestion of testosterone for the purpose of this study
• body mass index lower than 18 or higher than 27
• prior diagnosis of major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, phobia, anxiety disorder, or other psychiatric conditions
• first-degree relatives diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder
• presence of a medical condition that would preclude the use of testosterone
• use of medications that would preclude the use of testosterone
• consumption of more than 5 cigarettes a day
• current use of testosterone enhancing products, such as gels, creams, and injections

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
placebo	0.5% cholorbutanol, saline	125 mg 0.5% cholorbutanol, 50mg saline, pH5
testosterone	testosterone propionate	7mg testosterone propionate

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Measure of ethical behavior - Cheating rate defined as the Average number of 'heads' coin flips participants claim to have obtained	90 minutes	drug administration following by behavioral outcome. Specifically, participants will have the opportunity to predict the outcome of a series of coin flips. To obtain a measure of ethical behavior, participants will have the opportunity to cheat by over-reporting their prediction accuracy.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Robert Josephs; 🇺🇸 Austin, Texas, United States