Actively Recruiting
Imaging Cannabinoid Receptors Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning
Led by Yale University · Updated on 2026-04-27
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
856 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
Y
Yale University
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The aim of the present study is to assess the availability of cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) in the human brain. CB1R are present in everyone's brain, regardless of whether or not someone has used cannabis. The investigators will image brain cannabinoid receptors using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging and the radioligand OMAR, in healthy individuals and several conditions including 1) cannabis use disorders, 2) psychotic disorders, 3) prodrome of psychotic illness and 4) individuals with a family history of alcoholism, 5) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 6) Opioid Use Disorder using the PET imaging agent or radiotracer, \[11C\]OMAR. This will allow us to characterize the number and distribution of CB1R in these conditions. It is likely that the list of conditions will be expanded after the collection of pilot data and as new data on cannabinoids receptor function and psychiatric disorders becomes available. Those in the cannabis us disorder arm of the study will have a PET scan on at least three occasions: once while smoking as usual, once after 48-hours of abstinence from cannabis, and a final time after 4 weeks of abstinence. Additional scans may be conducted within the 4 weeks and the last scan may be conducted well beyond 4 weeks. Similarly, while most schizophrenia patients may get scanned just once, a subgroup of patients may get scanned more than once. For example to tease out the effects of medications, unmedicated patients may get scanned while unmedicated and again after treatment with antipsychotic medications. Similarly prodromes may get scanned while in the prodromal stage off medications, on medications and after conversion to schizophrenia.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Imaging Cannabinoid Receptors Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Males ages 18-55
- Willing to abstain from cannabis use for four weeks (for cannabis users)
- Meets DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (for schizophrenia group)
- Meets SIPS criteria for prodromal syndrome (for prodrome for psychotic illness group)
- Has a first degree relative with alcoholism (for family history positive group)
- Meets DSM-IV-TR criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (for PTSD group)
- Meets DSM-IV-TR criteria for Opioid Use Disorder (for OUD group)
You will not qualify if you...
- Current neuro-psychiatric illness (including cannabis dependence) or severe systemic disease, except conditions permitted in their respective groups
- Presence of ferromagnetic metal in the body or heart pacemaker
- Exposure to ionizing radiation exceeding recommended limits when combined with study tracer
- Claustrophobia
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Connecticut Mental Health Center, Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit
New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Alex Selloni, BA
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
7
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