CB1 Receptor PET Imaging Reveals Gender Differences in PTSD

Terminated

• Conditions: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Interventions: Other: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging

• Registration Number: NCT02237677
• Lead Sponsor: NYU Langone Health

Brief 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.

Basic Information
|
Recruitment & Eligibility
|
Study & Design
|
Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-06
• Study First Submitted: 2014-09-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-09-10
• Study First Posted: 2014-09-11
• Primary Completion: 2016-03
• Study Completion: 2016-03
• Status Verified: 2016-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-08-15
• Last Update Posted: 2016-08-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 36

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Read More

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Read More

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Healthy Controls (HC)	Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging	Healthy Controls (HC)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging	Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Volume of distribution (VT) of cerebral CB1 receptor expression in PTSD and controls within a fear circuit of brain regions that regulate stress-related behaviors using the CB1 radioligand carbon - 11 (11C) [11C]OMAR and PET.	Two months	To examine group differences in cerebral CB1 receptor expression in PTSD and controls within a fear circuit of cortical and subcortical brain regions that regulate stress-related behaviors using the CB1 radioligand \[11C\]OMAR and PET.; Hypothesis: PTSD patients will show greater \[11C\]OMAR VT (i.e. CB1 binding) values than both control groups, trauma-exposed and non-trauma exposed control subjects who will not be different.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

NYU School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States