PharmacofMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of Anxiolytic Medications (Alprazolam)

University of California San Diego

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Anxiety Disorders

Treatments: Drug: 1.0 mg alprazolam; Drug: 0.25 mg alprazolam; Drug: placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00703885

R01MH075792 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

UCSD IRB 060407 - A

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in healthy controls to examine the acute effects of certain anxiolytic medications on brain function.

Full description

Increased amygdala and insula activity have been implicated in neurobiological models of anxiety. Using fMRI, the anxiolytic medication, lorazepam, has previously been found to decrease activation in these areas during the processing of emotional stimuli. This study aims to replicate those results but by using a different medication, alprazolam. An eventual aim of this study, in combination with future studies, is to evaluate the utility of fMRI as a tool to identify anxiolytic function in both established and novel compounds that may be used to treat anxiety.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male, or female (not pregnant or intending to become pregnant during the study)
• Between the ages of 18-30.
• In good general health.
• No specific contraindications to the drug being administered

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects with a history of DSM-IV depressive disorder, psychotic disorder, anxiety disorder
• Subjects who meet criteria for substance abuse or dependence within the last 6 months
• Subjects with an positive urine screen for illicit drugs
• having clinically significant abnormal laboratory, ECG or physical examination findings not resolved by the baseline visit
• Patients who have taken psychotropic drugs or antidepressants (including monoamine oxidase inhibitors, MAOI's) within the last year
• subject is left-handed.
• The subject suffers from claustrophobia, or phobia for injections or blood.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging related exclusion criteria: cardiac pacemaker, metal fragments in eyes/skin/body (shrapnel), subjects who have ever been a metal worker/welder; history of eye surgery/eyes washed out because of metal, aortic/aneurysm clips, prosthesis, by-pass surgery/coronary artery clips, hearing aid, heart valve replacement, subjects who are in the first trimester of pregnancy, subjects with an I.U.D. (birth control device), a shunt (ventricular or spinal), electrodes, metal plates/pins/screws/wires, or neuro/bio-stimulators (TENS unit).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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16 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

1

Active Comparator group

Description:

0.25 mg alprazolam PO (liquid) will be administered 1 hour prior to fMRI scan. One-time, single dose. Note that subjects receive all 3 treatments in randomized order (cross-over study), approximately 7-10 days apart.

Treatment:

Drug: 0.25 mg alprazolam

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

1 mg alprazolam PO (liquid) will be administered 1 hour prior to fMRI scan One-time, single dose. Note that subjects receive all 3 treatments in randomized order (cross-over study), approximately 7-10 days apart.

Treatment:

Drug: 1.0 mg alprazolam

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Inactive ingredient in liquid matching appearance and volume of the two active alprazolam dose comparators. Note that subjects receive all 3 treatments in randomized order (cross-over study), approximately 7-10 days apart.

Treatment:

Drug: placebo