Kappa Opioid Receptor Imaging in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
This study uses positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to measure kappa opioid receptors (KOR) in the brains of individuals with and without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The investigators propose to recruit 45 drug-naïve individuals, N=15 patients with PTSD, N=15 trauma-exposed, but asymptomatic healthy control subjects (TC) and N=15 non-trauma exposed healthy control subjects (HC) to participate in one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and one PET study. The investigators will also carefully document trauma history, and collect behavioral and neuroendocrine measures to provide a more integrative view on the neurobiology of PTSD and its phenotype. The investigators predict PTSD will show greater carbon - 11 (11C)[11C]LY2795050 volume of distribution (VT) (i.e. KOR binding) values than control populations in an a priori defined PTSD circuit.

Official Title
-----------------
Kappa Opioid Receptor Imaging in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Conditions
-----------------
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Trauma

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion criteria for patients with PTSD: age 18-55 years old currently diagnosed with PTSD and symptomatic with a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score > 50. Exclusion criteria for patients with PTSD: any primary Axis I disorder other than PTSD (e.g. psychosis) medical or neurological illnesses likely to affect physiology or anatomy, i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disorders a history of drug (including benzodiazepines (BZD)) dependence (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) criteria) within 1 year of the study and lasting longer than 2 years, except for alcohol dependence current pregnancy (as documented by pregnancy testing at screening or on the day of PET imaging study) current breast feeding use of tobacco- or nicotine-containing products in excess of the equivalent of 5 cigarettes per day, or cannot abstain from smoking during the prescribed tests acute suicidal ideation or behavior, as defined by suicidal ideation and behavior during the 3-month period prior to enrollment in the study and while being enrolled in the study general MRI exclusion criteria, i.e. pacemakers, metals in the body Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects); use of opioid medications within 2 weeks of the PET study having an abnormality in the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risks associated with participation in the study seriously claustrophobic blood donation within 8 weeks prior to the study. Inclusion criteria for Healthy Subjects: age 18-55 years old no personal or first-degree family history of any Axis I diagnosis. Exclusion criteria for Healthy Subjects: any history or current primary Axis I disorder medical or neurological illnesses likely to affect physiology or anatomy, i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disorders a history of drug (including benzodiazepines [BZD]) dependence (DSM IV criteria) within 1 year of the study and lasting longer than 2 years, except for alcohol dependence current pregnancy (as documented by pregnancy testing at screening or on the day of PET imaging study) current breast feeding use of tobacco- or nicotine-containing products in excess of the equivalent of 5 cigarettes per day, or cannot abstain from smoking during the prescribed tests acute suicidal ideation or behavior, as defined by suicidal ideation and behavior during the 3-month period prior to enrollment in the study and while being enrolled in the study general MRI exclusion criteria, i.e. pacemakers, metals in the body HIV (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects) use of opioid medications within 2 weeks of the PET study having an abnormality in the 12-lead ECG that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risks associated with participation in the study seriously claustrophobic blood donation within 8 weeks prior to the study

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<br>Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | Other: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging<br>* Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging<br>|
| Trauma Control (TC)<br>Trauma Control (TC) | Other: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging<br>* Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging<br>|
| Healthy Control (HC)<br>Healthy Control (HC) | Other: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging<br>* Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volume of distribution (VT) of cerebral KOR expression in PTSD and healthy control subjects with and without trauma history using the KOR radioligand [11C]LY2795050 and PET | To examine group differences in cerebral KOR expression in PTSD and healthy control subjects with and without trauma history using the KOR radioligand [11C]LY2795050 and PET. Hypothesis: PTSD will show greater [11C]LY2795050 VT (i.e. KOR binding) values than control populations in an a priori defined PTSD circuit. | Two months | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Positron emission tomography (PET), Neuroimaging, Kappa opioid receptor (KOR)