Effects of Corticorelin Administration on Dopamine Transmission, Craving, and Mood in Cocaine Dependence

Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Substance-Related Disorders; Cocaine Addiction; Cocaine-Related Disorders

Treatments: Drug: Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01984177

010/2012

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will, in a sample of cocaine-dependent and healthy control subjects, administer corticorelin and compare dopamine release between groups. Dopamine release will be measured using PET neuroimaging with the radiotracer [11C]-(+)-PHNO.

Full description

SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY The project will, in a sample of cocaine-dependent (CD) and healthy control (HC) subjects, use administration of Corticorelin, a synthetic form of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)and PET imaging to assess dopamine (DA) transmission in addiction. We will use [11C]-(+)-PHNO PET to measure striatal DA receptor binding on two occasions: 1) following corticorelin administration and 2) following saline. The change in receptor binding between the two occasions (i.e., displacement of [11C]-(+)-PHNO by endogenous DA) will index DA release.

SUBJECTS CD subjects will meet DSM-IV criteria for abuse or dependence and be ~10d cocaine abstinent at the time of PET. HC will be recruited to match CD on age, sex, education, and cigarette smoking.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES We will measure [11C]-(+)-PHNO binding on two occasions (corticorelin, saline), with the difference between conditions indexing dopamine release; this measure will then be compared between cocaine-dependent and control subjects. We will also measure plasma cortisol and ACTH), physiological measures, and subjective craving and mood.

Enrollment: 17 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Sign and date informed consent
• Willing and able to complete trial as described in the protocol
• Psychiatrically healthy (as per diagnostic interview) except for cocaine dependence in cocaine users and nicotine dependence in both groups
• Mentally healthy
• Medically healthy (as per medical exam) with no current use of medications that may interfere with hormone activity or psychological measurements

Exclusion criteria

• Axis I psychiatric disorder (as per diagnostic interview), or medical condition that might interfere with participation in the study (as per medical exam)
• Exposure to radiation in the last 12 months exceeding the amount permissible by the CAMH PET centre
• Have received synthetic glucocorticoid or exogenous steroid therapy within one month of testing
• Exceed normal body weight
• If female: pregnancy or breast-feeding
• Metal implants or paramagnetic objects contained within the body
• Claustrophobia

Trial design

17 participants in 2 patient groups

cocaine-dependent (CD)

Description:

cocaine-dependent individuals

Treatment:

Drug: Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

healthy control (HC)

Description:

healthy age and sex-matched individuals who do not use cocaine

Treatment:

Drug: Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone