NIMH Study

[Epiphaneee]

Hey All,

 

Here's some info on a clinical trial going on at NIMH that's looking at anxiety disorders while considering the cortisol component. ?They're looking for participants...

 

Hope this was the right place to post it. ?:B:

 

Pif

 

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Protocol Number: 02-M-0002

 

Title: Serotonin 1A Receptor Imaging and Benzodiazepine Receptor Imaging in Panic Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Number: 02-M-0002

Summary: This study will examine the function of the brain chemicals serotonin and GABA in patients with panic disorder (PD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and will study how the stress hormone, cortisol, affects the function of serotonin and benzodiazepine receptors in these patients. Serotonin attaches (binds) to serotonin receptors on brain cells to regulate emotion, anxiety, sleep, stress hormones and other body functions that are disturbed in PD and PTSD. GABA binds to benzodiazepine receptors on brain cells and is involved in the regulation of anxiety.

 

Healthy normal volunteers and people between 18 and 50 years of age with PD or PTSD may be eligible for this study. In addition, patients 18 years of age or older with moderate to severe major mood disorder (MMD) may participate as control subjects. Candidates will be screened with a telephone interview regarding the subject's psychiatric and medical history, family history of psychiatric disorders and current emotional state.

 

All participants will undergo the following:

 

- Interview about general mood, degree of nervousness and behavior.

 

- Physical examination, including electrocardiogram (EKG), blood tests (including DNA studies to examine the genetic causes of PD and PTSD), and urine and saliva tests to measure cortisol levels. Menstruating women will have a pregnancy test and tests to determine menstrual phase and time of ovulation.

 

- Tests of general intelligence and cognitive abilities, including memory and problem solving.

 

- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to obtain detailed pictures of the brain's structure and show changes in tissues. For the scan, the subject lies very still on a bed in a narrow circular machine (the scanner). A plastic-encased metal coil is placed close to the head to improve the images. This scan lasts about 30 minutes.

 

- Positron emission tomography (PET). PET provides images of brain blood flow and serotonin and benzodiazepine receptor binding. The subject lies very still on a table inside the scanning machine. During the scan, small amounts of radioactive drugs are injected through a catheter (thin plastic tube) placed in an arm vein. The radioactive tracer is detected by a special camera and used to create pictures of brain blood flow patterns and serotonin receptor binding. Blood samples are collected during the study through another catheter placed in the wrist. The PET scan lasts about 3 1/2 hours and can be stopped at any time.

 

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): None

 

Contacts:

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office

Building 61

10 Cloister Court

Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754

Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222

TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)

Fax: 301-480-9793

 

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

 

Study Details