An Investigation of the Effects of Opioid Receptor Blockade on Changes in Self-esteem and Social Attention

McGill University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Self Esteem

Treatments: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Naltrexone

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04757506

A02-B12-11B

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of endogenous opioids on self-esteem and attentional bias toward social cues. This is achieved by administering the drug naltrexone, which temporarily decreases endogenous opioid activity.

Enrollment: 35 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• good physical health,
• normal kidney and liver function results from within previous year

Exclusion criteria

• allergy to naltrexone
• kidney or liver injury or disorder
• bipolar, panic, or psychotic disorders
• epilepsy
• smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day
• pregnancy
• substance abuse
• use of opioid analgesics, cocaine, recreational drugs (e.g., marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, etc.), or prescription medication (except oral contraceptives) within the past 10 days
• use of over-the-counter drugs (e.g., analgesics, anti-inflammatories, sleeping aids, etc.) or alcohol within the past 24 hours
• current experience of pain (e.g., headache)
• use of anti-diarrheal medications in the 7 days prior to the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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35 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

cellulose-filled capsule

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo

Naltrexone

Experimental group

Description:

single 50 mg oral dose naltrexone (capsule)

Treatment:

Drug: Naltrexone