Actively Recruiting
Low-dose Buprenorphine as a Modulator of Social Motivation in Schizophrenia
Led by University of California, Los Angeles · Updated on 2026-04-28
40
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
145 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Low social motivation is a significant symptom of schizophrenia and is a major cause of disability and suffering for many patients struggling with the illness. Social motivation refers to the drive to participate in or abstain from social activities. Many patients with schizophrenia evidence both decreased drive to seek positive social input (approach motivation) and heightened drive to avoid negative social input (avoidance motivation) compared to individuals without the illness. Despite the enormous burden of these deficits on patients, there are no medications that effectively treat impaired social motivation. Buprenorphine is an unusual drug that is used to treat opioid use disorder at higher doses and more recently, to treat depression and suicidality at lower doses. It is a unique opioid medication that has a compound action that gives it the potential to improve social motivation both by boosting approach motivation and by reducing avoidance motivation. The effects of low doses of buprenorphine have previously. been studied in healthy volunteers, showing that the drug enhances social motivation. These results in nonclinical volunteers suggest that buprenorphine may be a promising treatment for deficits in social motivation seen in some patients with schizophrenia. However, no previous studies have investigated the effects of buprenorphine on social motivation in this population. Here the effects of a low dose of buprenorphine (0.15mg) on social motivation in patients with schizophrenia (N=40) will be assessed. In this double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled study, participants will attend a 2-hour preparatory session and two 6-hour laboratory sessions, at which they will receive either placebo or buprenorphine. During expected peak drug effect they will complete validated tasks assessing social motivation. It is expected that buprenorphine will increase approach motivation and decrease avoidance motivation as measured by an attention bias task. The results of this study will lay the foundation for the clinical use of buprenorphine as the first medication to treat social deficits in schizophrenia.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Low-dose Buprenorphine as a Modulator of Social Motivation in Schizophrenia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Ages 18-60
- Ability to understand spoken English well enough to follow testing procedures
- Score below the average on the Lubben Social Network Scale based on prior screenings
- Diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria
- Clinically stable: no hospitalizations or medication changes in past 6 months, and no current positive symptoms above moderate level
You will not qualify if you...
- History of IQ less than 70 or developmental disability
- Current use of opioid medications
- Clinically significant neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory diseases
- History of serious head injury with long unconsciousness or lasting cognitive effects
- Substance or alcohol use disorder in past 6 months, or history of opioid use disorder
- Use of sedatives or benzodiazepines within 24 hours before testing
- Positive urine drug screen or visible intoxication on assessment day
- Women who are pregnant or suspect pregnancy based on self-report and urine test
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
UCLA Semel Institute
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
G
Gerard De Vera
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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