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Effect of Nicotine on Brain Reward Pathways

Effect of Nicotine on Brain Reward Pathways

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02346539
Enrollment
46
Registered
2015-01-27
Start date
2015-02-28
Completion date
2017-11-30
Last updated
2018-03-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder

Keywords

Nicotine, Depression

Brief summary

The investigators will determine whether an acute dose of nicotine, in the form of the nicotine lozenge, impacts brain and behavioral measures of mood and reward responsiveness in individuals with major depressive disorder.

Interventions

Single Acute dose

Sponsors

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
CollaboratorNIH
Mclean Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

for subjects with Major Depressive Disorder: 1. Provide written informed consent; 2. Both genders and all ethnic origins, age between 18 and 45; 3. Meet DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for MDD (diagnosed with the use of the SCID); 4. A baseline HAM-D score of 16 or greater; 5. Absence of pregnancy; 6. Absence of any psychotropic medication for at least 2 weeks: 1. 6 weeks for fluoxetine 2. 6 months for neuroleptics 3. 2 weeks for benzodiazepines 4. 2 weeks for any other antidepressants Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls 1. Absence of medical, neurological, and psychiatric illness (including alcohol and substance abuse); as assessed by subject history and a structured clinical interview (SCID); 2. Provide written informed consent; 3. Both genders and all ethnic origins, age between 18 and 45; 4. Absence of any medications for at least 3 weeks; 5. Absence of pregnancy.

Exclusion criteria

1. Subjects with suicidal ideation where outpatient treatment is determined unsafe. These patients will be immediately referred to a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist to determine the appropriate clinical treatment; 2. Serious or unstable medical illness 3. Lifetime history of seizure disorder; 4. Lifetime 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, ADHD, patients with mood congruent or mood incongruent psychotic features; simple phobia, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorders will be allowed only if secondary to MDD; 5. Patients with a lifetime history of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); 6. Failure to meet standard MRI safety requirements; 7. May not have used any nicotine product in the past year; must report fewer than 20 lifetime uses of nicotine 8. Must have an expired carbon monoxide level of less than or equal to 10 ppm. 9. Use of anticholinergic drugs in the past week 10. Any past or present history of cardiac problems including known arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome, or ischemic heart disease 11. Uncontrolled hypertension 12. History of substance abuse in the past 6 months (other than caffeine), self-reported use of marijuana in past month, or history of treatment with methadone 13. Heavy caffeine users (consume greater than 500 mg on a regular or daily basis) 14. Subjects that cannot speak English

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change from Placebo in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) BOLD ResponseParticipants will be assessed during 2 fMRI scanning sessions, an expected average of 2 weeks.Nicotine will enhance the fMRI BOLD response to monetary reinforcers relative to placebo administration

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026