Imaging Cannabinoid Receptors Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning

Recruiting

• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Cannabis Dependence; Prodromal for Psychotic Illness; Opioid-use Disorder; Family History of Alcoholism; Healthy Control
• Interventions: Radiation: [11-C]OMAR

• Registration Number: NCT01730781
• Lead Sponsor: Yale University

Brief Summary

The aim of the present study is to assess the availability of cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) in the human brain. CB1R are present in everyone's brain, regardless of whether or not someone has used cannabis. The investigators will image brain cannabinoid receptors using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging and the radioligand OMAR, in healthy individuals and several conditions including 1) cannabis use disorders, 2) psychotic disorders, 3) prodrome of psychotic illness and 4) individuals with a family history of alcoholism, 5) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 6) Opioid Use Disorder using the PET imaging agent or radiotracer, \[11C\]OMAR. This will allow us to characterize the number and distribution of CB1R in these conditions. It is likely that the list of conditions will be expanded after the collection of pilot data and as new data on cannabinoids receptor function and psychiatric disorders becomes available.

Those in the cannabis us disorder arm of the study will have a PET scan on at least three occasions: once while smoking as usual, once after 48-hours of abstinence from cannabis, and a final time after 4 weeks of abstinence. Additional scans may be conducted within the 4 weeks and the last scan may be conducted well beyond 4 weeks. Similarly, while most schizophrenia patients may get scanned just once, a subgroup of patients may get scanned more than once. For example to tease out the effects of medications, unmedicated patients may get scanned while unmedicated and again after treatment with antipsychotic medications. Similarly prodromes may get scanned while in the prodromal stage off medications, on medications and after conversion to schizophrenia.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2010-07
• Study First Submitted: 2012-06-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-11-15
• Study First Posted: 2012-11-21
• Status Verified: 2023-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-11-02
• Last Update Posted: 2023-11-07
• Primary Completion: 2024-12
• Study Completion: 2024-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• Males ages 18-55
• For cannabis users:
• Willing to abstain from cannabis use for four weeks
• For schizophrenia:
• Meets DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• For prodrome for psychotic illness:
• Meets SIPS criteria for prodromal syndrome
• For family history positive:
• First degree relative with alcoholism
• For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Meets DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD
• For OUD
• Meets DSM-IV-TR criteria for Opioid Use Disorder

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Exclusion Criteria

• Current neuro-psychiatric illness (including cannabis dependence) or severe systemic disease. Cannabis use disorder is permitted in the cannabis dependent group. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is permitted in the schizophrenia group. Psychotic symptoms are permitted in the prodromal group. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is permitted in the PTSD group and Opioid Use Disorder is permitted in the OUD group.
• Presence of ferromagnetic metal in the body or heart pacemaker
• Have had exposure to ionizing radiation that in combination with the study tracer would result in a cumulative exposure that exceeds recommended exposure limits
• Are claustrophobic

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Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Schizophrenia	[11-C]OMAR	Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia both on medication and off medication
PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder	[11-C]OMAR	Patients diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Opioid Use Disorder	[11-C]OMAR	Patients diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder
Cannabis dependence	[11-C]OMAR	Frequent users of cannabis
Family history of alcoholism	[11-C]OMAR	Healthy volunteers with a first degree relative with alcoholism
Prodrome for psychotic illness	[11-C]OMAR	Not meeting full criteria for psychotic illness but exhibiting prodromal symptoms
Healthy Volunteers	[11-C]OMAR	Healthy volunteers with no current or past major medical or psychiatric history

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
PET Imaging	One time within 4 weeks of screening	This study will utilize the radioligand \[11C\]OMAR and High Resolution Research Tomography (HRRT) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to measure brain CB1 receptor availability in all study populations.; Those in the cannabis dependent population of the study will have PET scanning on three occasions: once within four weeks of screening while smoking as usual, once 48-hours later after remaining abstinent, and once four weeks later after remaining abstinent. The change in receptor density at each time point will be evaluated.; Those in the other populations will have PET scanning done on one occasion within four weeks of screening.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Connecticut Mental Health Center, Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit; 🇺🇸 New Haven, Connecticut, United States