The Effects of Acute Administration of Bupropion on Neural Substrates Underlying Hedonic Capacity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of a single-dose of Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) on reward processing.

Detailed Description
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A cardinal feature of Major Depressive Disorder is anhedonia, which is a lack of pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. In order to understand reward processing in depressed individuals it is also necessary to study reward processing in people who are not depressed. Bupropion, the active drug in the anti-depressant Wellbutrin XL, has been shown to increase brain reward functioning in animals. The goal of the present study is to investigate the effects of Wellbutrin XL administered to psychiatrically healthy individuals as they perform a computer task known to assess reward processing.

Official Title
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The Effects of Acute Administration of Bupropion on Neural Substrates Underlying Hedonic Capacity

Conditions
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Major Depressive Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Bupropion
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Absence of medical, neurological, and psychiatric illness (including alcohol and substance abuse) Non-Smoker Right-handed (Chapman and Chapman 1987) Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Predisposition to seizure (e.g. family history of a seizure disorder, history of head trauma) or current use of medications that lower the seizure threshold History or current diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia Alcohol or substance abuse within the past year Current usage of Wellbutrin or Zyban or other drugs that contain bupropion Recent discontinuation of alcohol or sedatives (including benzodiazepines) Use of (in the last 2 weeks) medications that may have antidepressant properties (ex. some herbal supplements) Known allergies to bupropion Currently lactating, pregnant or believe you are likely to be pregnant (enrolled subjects who are not using reliable contraception and have engaged in sexual intercourse since their last menstrual period will be given a self-administered pregnancy test.) Left-handed/ambidextrous Evidence of neurological illness Serious suicide or homicide risk Concomitant medications other than those listed in the exclusion criteria will be considered on an individual basis. Oral contraceptives will be allowed.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 64 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br> | Drug: Placebo<br>* Administered 5 hours prior to fMRI scanning (randomly assigned, double blind)<br>|
| Active Comparator: Bupropion<br> | Drug: Bupropion<br>* 150 mg of bupropion administered 5 hours before fMRI scanning<br>* Other names: Wellbutrin XL;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Whether an acute dose of bupropion vs. placebo differentially affects the neurobiology and behavior of reward processing in depressed participants. |  | 1 day | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Reward Processing, Wellbutrin, Bupropion