Cannabis, Neuroinflammation, and Suicidal Ideation: A Supplemental Brain Imaging Study

NCT07222306 | Enrolling By Invitation DMC FDA Drug

• 2 other identifiers: IRB-24-09-7226VMR2022-02
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will be the first to use brain imaging to explore how cannabis affects the brain and inflammation in U.S. military veterans with PTSD. It builds on an ongoing study testing different combinations of THC and CBD in 200 veterans. In this project, up to 100 veterans will complete brain scans before and after 12 weeks of cannabis administration to see how the brain changes over time. The scans will measure a marker sensitive to neuroinflammatory state, brain communication, and activity during thinking and emotion tasks. By linking these brain changes to improvements in PTSD symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and quality of life, this study may help identify which veterans benefit most from cannabis-based treatments and support more personalized care for PTSD.

Conditions

PTSD; Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors; PTSD Symptoms; Depressive Symptoms

Keywords

PTSD; Suicidal Thoughts; Cannabis; Brain Imaging; MRI; PET; Veterans; Depression; Cannabidiol; THC

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• [18F]FETrp K-complex

  To quantify kynurenine uptake rate, a Patlak graphical analysis will be performed using the image-derived input function and the dynamic brain emission data. This method yields the unidirectional uptake rate constant, K-complex, in each brain region of interest. Outcome analyses will investigate associations with clinical symptoms and cognitive function at baseline, as longitudinal changes from baseline to follow-up with inter-group differences between dose conditions of particular interest.

  Baseline and follow-up (at least 12 weeks after baseline)

• BOLD fMRI response

  BOLD fMRI response will be isolated by contrasting activation to the contrast Go/No-Go \> Rest for the inhibitory control task, iI \> cI for the emotion regulation task, and reward \> loss for the reward task.

  Baseline and follow-up (at least 12 weeks after baseline)

Study Arms (1)

PET and/or MRI

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the radiotracer, 1-(2-\[+F\]fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan or \[18F\]FETrp and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Drug: 1-(2-[+F]fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan

Interventions

1-(2-[+F]fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan DRUG

1-(2-\[+F\]fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan tracer will be used during PET imaging

PET and/or MRI

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 69 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Females must not be pregnant
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Military veterans with PTSD

You may qualify if:

• Eligible for, and provided written informed consent to participate in, the Parent Study (NCT06381180) and to be contacted regarding 'future research studies.'
• Able/willing to provide written informed consent to participate in the Neuroimaging Study.

You may not qualify if:

• Contraindications for MRI scanning include, but are not limited to: as braces, pacemaker, implanted metal (self-report MR screening form and ferromagnetic detectors) or medical conditions that prevent comfortable MRI scanning procedures, e.g., inability to lay supine for 60 minutes, claustrophobia, or body weight \> 275lbs.
• Contraindications for PET \[18F\]FETrp imaging include, but are not limited to: chronic medical conditions that alter radiotracer pharmacokinetic properties, e.g, Diabetes I/II (or uncontrolled glucose levels \[\>200mg/dl non-fasting\]), abnormal BMI (\<18.5 or \> 35kg/m2), autoimmune diseases, or other chronic inflammatory conditions, or take medications (3+ days/week) that will alter radiotracer binding, e.g., glucose stabilizing medications, proton-pump inhibitors, or anti-inflammatory agents, or have medical conditions that prevent comfortable PET scanning procedures, e.g., inability to lay supine for \~75 minutes, tolerate a radial vein catheter and up to 35ml of whole blood drawn, or body weight \> 275lbs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Wayne State University: lead
• Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Tolan Park Medical Building

Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Etkin A, Prater KE, Hoeft F, Menon V, Schatzberg AF. Failure of anterior cingulate activation and connectivity with the amygdala during implicit regulation of emotional processing in generalized anxiety disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2010 May;167(5):545-54. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09070931. Epub 2010 Feb 1.

  PMID: 20123913 BACKGROUND

• Fonzo GA, Etkin A, Zhang Y, Wu W, Cooper C, Chin-Fatt C, Jha MK, Trombello J, Deckersbach T, Adams P, McInnis M, McGrath PJ, Weissman MM, Fava M, Trivedi MH. Brain regulation of emotional conflict predicts antidepressant treatment response for depression. Nat Hum Behav. 2019 Dec;3(12):1319-1331. doi: 10.1038/s41562-019-0732-1. Epub 2019 Sep 23.

  PMID: 31548678 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Suicidal Ideation; Behavior; Depression; Marijuana Abuse

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders

Study Officials

• Eric Woodcock

  Wayne State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Hilary Marusak, PhD

  Wayne State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2025
• First Posted: October 29, 2025
• Study Start: November 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2030
• Last Updated: October 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)