Purpose

The study will investigate whether a nociceptin receptor antagonist will normalize neural and behavioral processes of approach/avoidance decision-making in unmedicated individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders. More specifically, the study aims to investigate dysregulation within (1) corticostriatal-midbrain circuitry and (2) nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide and the nociceptin receptor (NOPR).

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 45 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

for MDD/anxiety disorder group: - DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for MDD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress (diagnosed using the SCID-5) - Written informed consent - For MDD subjects, a baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score > 16 (17-item version) - Right-handed - Has a smartphone (iPhone or Android) (needed for Ecological Momentary Assessment) - Absence of any psychotropic medications for at least 2 weeks (6 weeks for fluoxetine, 6 months for neuroleptics, 2 weeks for benzodiazepines, 2 weeks for any other antidepressants) Inclusion criteria for healthy controls: - Absence of medical, neurological, and psychiatric illness (including alcohol and substance abuse), as assessed by subject history and a structured clinical interview (diagnosed using the SCID-5) - Written informed consent - Right-handed - Absence of any medications for at least 3 weeks - Has a smartphone (iPhone or Android) (needed for Ecological Momentary Assessment)

Exclusion Criteria

for all participants: - Subjects with suicidal ideation where outpatient treatment is determined unsafe by the study clinician - Pregnant women or women of childbearing potential who are not using a medically accepted means of contraception - Serious or unstable medical illness, including cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrine, neurologic or hematologic disease - History of seizure disorder - History or current diagnosis of any of the following DSM-IV psychiatric illnesses: organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, psychotic disorders not otherwise specified, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, patients with mood congruent or mood incongruent psychotic features, substance dependence, substance abuse within the last 12 months (with the exception of cocaine or stimulant abuse; which will lead to exclusion) - History of cocaine or stimulant use (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine) - History of use of dopaminergic drugs (including methylphenidate) - History or current diagnosis of dementia - Patients with mood congruent or mood incongruent psychotic features - Current use of other psychotropic drugs - Clinical or laboratory evidence of hypothyroidism - Patients with a lifetime history of electroconvulsive therapy - Failure to meet standard magnetic resonance imaging safety requirements - Abnormal ECG and lab results - History of seizure disorder or currently on anticonvulsants

Study Design

Phase
Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Participants with MDD or an anxiety disorder receiving the nociceptin receptor antagonist
After a diagnostic interview (determining the presence of MDD or an anxiety disorder) and collection of blood for Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin assays, participants will receive the nociceptin receptor antagonist. Participants will then complete an approach/avoidance task. Functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) will begin 2 hours after the nociceptin receptor antagonist is administered.
  • Drug: Nociceptin Receptor Antagonist
    Participants in the experimental arms will receive 40 mg of the nociceptin receptor antagonist. Peak concentrations are achieved 2-4 hours post-administration.
    Other names:
    • BTRX-246040
  • Device: Aversive stimuli
    As part of the approach/avoidance task, electrotactile stimulation will be used. The aversive stimulus is delivered in the form of a mild half-second stimulation to the ankle, calibrated to a subjective threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. This stimulation is delivered by Digitimer DS8R Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer North America, LLC. Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Its previous model, DS71, has been safely implemented in studies within Massachusetts General Hospital (Milad et al., 2013).
Placebo Comparator
Participants with MDD or an anxiety disorder receiving the placebo
After a diagnostic interview (determining the presence of MDD or an anxiety disorder) and collection of blood for Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin assays, participants will receive the placebo. Participants will then complete an approach/avoidance task. fMRI will begin 2 hours after the placebo is administered.
  • Device: Aversive stimuli
    As part of the approach/avoidance task, electrotactile stimulation will be used. The aversive stimulus is delivered in the form of a mild half-second stimulation to the ankle, calibrated to a subjective threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. This stimulation is delivered by Digitimer DS8R Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer North America, LLC. Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Its previous model, DS71, has been safely implemented in studies within Massachusetts General Hospital (Milad et al., 2013).
Experimental
Healthy controls receiving the nociceptin receptor antagonist
After a diagnostic interview (determining healthy control status) and collection of blood for Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin assays, participants will receive a nociceptin receptor antagonist. Participants will then complete an approach/avoidance task. fMRI will begin 2 hours after the nociceptin receptor antagonist is administered.
  • Drug: Nociceptin Receptor Antagonist
    Participants in the experimental arms will receive 40 mg of the nociceptin receptor antagonist. Peak concentrations are achieved 2-4 hours post-administration.
    Other names:
    • BTRX-246040
  • Device: Aversive stimuli
    As part of the approach/avoidance task, electrotactile stimulation will be used. The aversive stimulus is delivered in the form of a mild half-second stimulation to the ankle, calibrated to a subjective threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. This stimulation is delivered by Digitimer DS8R Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer North America, LLC. Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Its previous model, DS71, has been safely implemented in studies within Massachusetts General Hospital (Milad et al., 2013).
Placebo Comparator
Healthy controls receiving the placebo
After a diagnostic interview (determining healthy control status) and collection of blood for Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin assays, participants will receive the placebo. Participants will then complete an approach/avoidance task. fMRI will begin 2 hours after the placebo is administered.
  • Device: Aversive stimuli
    As part of the approach/avoidance task, electrotactile stimulation will be used. The aversive stimulus is delivered in the form of a mild half-second stimulation to the ankle, calibrated to a subjective threshold that is uncomfortable but not painful. This stimulation is delivered by Digitimer DS8R Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer North America, LLC. Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Its previous model, DS71, has been safely implemented in studies within Massachusetts General Hospital (Milad et al., 2013).

Recruiting Locations

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Mclean Hospital

Study Contact

Ethan M Zhang, BA
617-855-4434
ezhang24@mclean.harvard.edu

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.