PET Imaging for Alcoholism
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial requires that participants must not have taken antidepressants or antipsychotic medications in the week before or during their hospital stay. For other medications, the protocol does not specify, so it's best to discuss with the trial team.
Is PET imaging for alcoholism safe for humans?
How does PET imaging differ from other treatments for alcoholism?
PET imaging is unique because it uses a special type of scan to study the brain's activity and metabolism, helping to understand how alcohol affects the brain and to track changes during treatment. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on medication or therapy, PET imaging provides detailed insights into the brain's function, which can guide more personalized treatment strategies.14567
What is the purpose of this trial?
Background:People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) also often have bouts of depression called major depressive episodes (MDEs). People having MDEs have been found to have low levels of a protein called PDE4B in the brain. Researchers want to find out if people with AUD also have low levels of PDE4B. This research may help lead to better treatments for AUD.Objective:To find out (1) if PDE4B levels are lower in people who are withdrawing from AUD and (2) if their PDE4B levels go up after they abstain from alcohol for 3 to 4 weeks.Eligibility:Adults aged 18 to 70 years with AUD. They must be enrolled in protocol 14-AA-0181.Design:Participants enrolled in protocol 14-AA-0181 will stay in the clinic for 3 to 4 weeks for alcohol withdrawal. During this stay, they will have some added procedures for the current study.Within the first week, participants will have a positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the brain. A needle will be used to guide a thin plastic tube (catheter) into a vein in one arm. An experimental substance called a radioactive tracer will be injected through the catheter. This tracer binds to PDE4B and makes it easier to see the protein in the brain. For the scan, participants will lie on a table that slides into a doughnut-shaped machine.Participants will have a second PET scan toward the end of their stay in the clinic.Participants may also have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. They will lie on a bed that slides into a tube.
Research Team
Robert B Innis, M.D.
Principal Investigator
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults aged 18 to 70 with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) who are already enrolled in protocol 14-AA-0181. They will undergo alcohol withdrawal in a clinic for about a month and participate in additional procedures to measure PDE4B levels.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Alcohol Withdrawal and Initial PET Scan
Participants undergo alcohol withdrawal and have an initial PET scan within the first week of admission
Continued Alcohol Withdrawal and Second PET Scan
Participants continue alcohol withdrawal and have a second PET scan after 3-4 weeks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Treatment Details
Interventions
- 18F-PF-06445974
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Lead Sponsor