A Combined Psycho-pharmacological and Brain Imaging Study of Human Sexuality

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The current study combines a molecular genetic perspective, self report and brain imaging to the study of human sexuality in control subjects and individuals from a sexual disorder clinic. The investigators hypothesize that the variability in components of the brain dopaminergic system expressed in the mesolimbic reward system can explain variability in human sexuality, especially in desire and pleasure associated with sex.

Detailed Description
-----------------
We intend to combine molecular genetics of the dopamine receptors (D2, D3 D4 and D5) and brain imaging using 11 C Raclopride in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). 11 C Raclopride is a ligand which binds to the dopamine receptor D2 and can measure dopamine release during pleasure or anticipatory reward associated with sex. The current proposal will measure changes in DRD2 receptor occupancy using 11 C Raclopride following explicit visual sexual desire cues in healthy control subjects and individuals who suffer from sexual dysfunction. This is in order to determine how individual genotypes modulate dopamine release in vivo in the human brain.

Official Title
-----------------
A Combined Psycho-pharmacological and Brain Imaging Study of Human Sexuality

Conditions
-----------------
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Erectile Dysfunction

Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Healthy volunteers and patients Age 21-65 Male or female Exclusion Criteria: Psychiatric diagnosis/psychosis Neurological damage associated with loss of consciousness Infectious disease HIV Herpes Syphilis Hyperactivity treated with ritalin Pregnant women Under age

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 65 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 |
| --- | --- |
| 1<br>Healthy control subjects (n=20) age 21-65 who do not suffer from a psychiatric diagnosis or neurological damage, are under age, or are pregnant women | |
| 2<br>20 patients who suffer from sexual disorder (reduced sexual desire or sexual function) from a sexual disorder clinic, age 21-65, without any other psychiatric disorder, neurological damage, are not under age or pregnant women. | |

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

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brain Imaging data of DRD2 receptor occupancy during watching a sex videotape and neutral videotape |  | 2 Brain imaging sessions a week apart | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Questionnaire ratings of human sexuality, pleasure, and anticipatory reward |  | Taken during brain scans | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Sex, brain imaging, dopamine, sexual disorder