Serotonin Transporters in Alcoholism

NCT00085865 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 04020804-M-0208
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will compare serotonin transporter proteins in people with alcoholism and healthy volunteers to examine how these proteins may be related to the inability of people with alcoholism to appropriately regulate their alcohol consumption. Serotonin transporters regulate levels of the brain chemical serotonin. Problems in this regulation have been implicated in alcoholism. Healthy normal volunteers and people who suffer from alcoholism who are between 18 and 75 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and physical examination, psychiatric diagnostic interview, blood and urine tests, an electrocardiogram, urine toxicology screen, and written psychological evaluations. Participants undergo positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning to measure serotonin transporter levels in the brain. PET uses small amounts of a radioactive chemical called a tracer that "labels" the serotonin transporters in the brain. The tracer used in this study is \[11C\]DASB. For the procedure, the subject lies on the scanner bed. A special mask is fitted to the head and attached to the bed to help keep the subject's head still during the scan so the images will be clear. A brief scan is done just before the radioactive tracer is injected. This scan provides measures of the brain that will help in the precise calculation of information from subsequent scans. After the tracer is injected through a catheter (plastic tube) placed in the arm, pictures are taken for about 2 hours. MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce pictures of brain structure. The subject lies on a bed that slides into the tube-like scanner, wearing earplugs to muffle loud noises the machine makes when the magnetic fields are switched. The scan takes about an hour, during which time the subject can communicate with the technician.

Conditions

Alcoholism

Keywords

5 HT; Neuroreceptors; Radiotracer; Neuroimaging; Serotonin Transporter; Alcoholism; PET; Healthy Volunteer; HV

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age: 18-75
• DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse.
• Age: 18-75

You may not qualify if:

• PATIENTS AND CONTROLS:
• Other current DSM-IV Axis I diagnostic criteria than alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse.
• Psychotropic medication or other drugs that may cross the blood brain barrier.
• Serious organic disease e.g. liver disease.
• Claustrophobia.
• Pregnancy.
• Prior participation in other research protocols within the past year such that a radiation exposure together with the present study would exceed the annual limits.
• Any condition that increases risk for MRI (e.g., pacemaker, metallic foreign body in the eye, etc.)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Fujita M, Charney DS, Innis RB. Imaging serotonergic neurotransmission in depression: hippocampal pathophysiology may mirror global brain alterations. Biol Psychiatry. 2000 Oct 15;48(8):801-12. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(00)00960-4.

  PMID: 11063976 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcoholism

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2004
• First Posted: June 16, 2004
• Study Start: June 1, 2004
• Study Completion: July 1, 2006
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2006-07

Locations

US (1)