The Role of the Opioid System in Placebo Effects on Pain & Social

Status Not yet recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

The current study probes the involvement of the opioid system in placebo effects on social pain, using the opioid antagonist naloxone. 60 participants who recently experienced an unwanted breakup will experience rejection-related stimuli and receive painful heat and pressure stimuli during fMRI scanning. Participants will be randomized to receive either a naloxone or saline nasal spray, and be informed that the spray is either saline, or an effective pain and negative emotion reducing agent.

Clinical Trial Description

Background: Loss of close relationships is one of the most aversive life events. An unwanted romantic breakup leads to a 20% risk of developing depression within a month, a dramatic increase in depression risk. The investigators recently identified brain pathways mediating placebo effects on physical heat pain and the social pain associated with an unwanted breakup, including common involvement of dlPFC-PAG pathways and vmPFC. Other recent studies have identified rejection-related opioidergic activity in these circuits that may reflect endogenous regulatory mechanisms. This experiment probes the involvement of the opioid system in placebo effects on social pain, using the opioid antagonist naloxone. Design: Extending the investigator's previous design, participants who recently experienced an unwanted breakup will submit pictures of their ex-partners, places associated with strong memories of the partner, and written descriptions of memories that evoke rejection and social pain. Participants will 1) experience rejection-related stimuli and 2) receive painful heat and pressure stimuli in separate runs during fMRI scanning. FMRI scans after Control and Placebo treatment-nasal spray with suggestions of efficacy for emotion and pain-will be performed in a 2-session within-person counterbalanced design. Participants will be randomized into two groups that receive either (1) 4mg naloxone nasal spray or (2) saline in the nasal spray in both sessions, implementing a 2 x 2 (Placebo/Control x Saline/Naloxone) design. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT04650841
Study type	Interventional
Source	Trustees of Dartmouth College
Contact	Tor D Wager, PhD
Phone	603-646-2196
Email	Tor.D.Wager@Dartmouth.edu
Status	Not yet recruiting
Phase	Early Phase 1
Start date	September 1, 2024
Completion date	March 1, 2025

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Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.

The Role of the Opioid System in Placebo Effects on Pain and Social Rejection

Clinical Trial Summary

Clinical Trial Description

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms