NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 03-M-0001

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptor Imaging in Depression
Number:
03-M-0001
Summary:
The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to examine the role of certain brain receptors and the nervous system chemical acetylcholine in major depression.

The cholinergic system involves the regulation of neurotransmitters and the brain receptors to which they bind. Evidence suggests that the cholinergic system may play a role in the development of depression. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that binds to certain brain receptors called muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Cholinomimetic drugs (drugs that stimulate the cholinergic system) often exacerbate depressive symptoms in people with mood disorders and in healthy individuals. This increase in depressive symptoms may be caused by stimulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), but further study is needed to confirm this. This study will use positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the function of mAChRs in individuals with depression.

Participants in this study will undergo a physical examination, psychiatric interviews, neuropsychological tests, PET and MRI scans, and rating scales of depression, anxiety, and negative thinking symptoms. Questions about behavior and functioning will be asked and blood samples will be collected for genetic analysis.

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

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA - MDD Depressed Sample:

Twenty subjects (ages 18-50) male and female will be selected, with primary MDD currently depressed as defined by DSM-IV criteria for recurrent MDD and current HDRS score in the moderately-to-severely depressed range (greater than 18) and who have a first degree relative with MDD but no first degree relatives with mania, alcoholism, or antisocial personality disorder.

INCLUSION CRITERIA - Bipolar Depressed Sample:

Twenty subjects (aged 18-50) male and female will be selected who meet DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I or II disorder and are currently depressed, with HDRS score in the moderately-to-severely depressed range (greater than 18). Subjects may be inpatients or outpatients. Because effective treatment will not be discontinued for the purposes of this protocol, subjects will be identified who have never been treated or who have discontinued medication due to lack of efficacy, noncompliance, physician order, or other reasons prior to study entry.

INCLUSION CRITERIA - Healthy, Control Sample:

Twenty subjects (ages 18-50) male and female who have not met criteria for any major psychiatric disorder will be selected. From this large sample a control subject will be matched to each depressed subject for age, gender, handedness and stage of menstrual cycle. The control subjects will have no known first degree relatives with mood disorders.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects must not have taken antidepressant or other medications likely to alter monoamine neurochemistry or cerebrovascular function for at least 3 weeks (8 weeks for fluoxetine and for any drug with known anticholinergic effects) prior to scanning. Because effective medications will not be discontinued for the purposes of this study, subjects will be identified who have never been treated or who have discontinued medication due to lack of efficacy, noncompliance, physician order or other reasons prior to study entry. Subjects will also be excluded if they: a) have had serious suicidal ideation or behavior in the previous two months, or if they have b) had any significant comorbid condition in the last year, c) psychosis to the extent that the ability to provide informed consent is in doubt, d) history of any major psychiatric disorder (other than the target mood disorder) arising temporally before the initial mood episode, e) medical or neurological illnesses (i.e. seizure disorder, a coma in past) likely to affect physiology or anatomy, f) a history of drug or alcohol abuse within 1 year or a lifetime history of alcohol or drug dependence (DSM IV criteria), g) are HIV positive or have AIDS, h) current pregnancy (documented by history and pregnancy testing prior to scanning), i) current breast feeding, j) general MRI exclusion criteria which include the subject having a pacemaker or significant claustrophobia and k) if they are smokers.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
PET
[18F]FP-TZTP
Bipolar Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Muscarinic 2 Receptors
Recruitment Keywords:
None
Conditions:
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Investigational Drug(s):
[O-15] Water
[F-18] FP-TZTP
Investigational Device(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

Citations:
Allen TG. The role of N-, Q- and R-type Ca2+ channels in feedback inhibition of ACh release from rat basal forebrain neurones. J Physiol. 1999 Feb 15;515 ( Pt 1):93-107. PMID: 9925881

Arango V, Underwood MD, Boldrini M, Tamir H, Kassir SA, Hsiung S, Chen JJ, Mann JJ. Serotonin 1A receptors, serotonin transporter binding and serotonin transporter mRNA expression in the brainstem of depressed suicide victims. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2001 Dec;25(6):892-903. PMID: 11750182

Baratti CM, Opezzo JW, Kopf SR. Facilitation of memory storage by the acetylcholine M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist AF-DX 116. Behav Neural Biol. 1993 Jul;60(1):69-74. PMID: 8216161

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

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