A Combined Psycho-pharmacological and Brain Imaging Study of Human Sexuality

June 9, 2010 updated by: Hadassah Medical Organization
The current study combines a molecular genetic perspective, self report and brain imaging to the study of human sexuality in control subjects and individuals from a sexual disorder clinic. The investigators hypothesize that the variability in components of the brain dopaminergic system expressed in the mesolimbic reward system can explain variability in human sexuality, especially in desire and pleasure associated with sex.

Study Overview

Status

Suspended

Conditions

Detailed Description

We intend to combine molecular genetics of the dopamine receptors (D2, D3 D4 and D5) and brain imaging using 11 C Raclopride in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). 11 C Raclopride is a ligand which binds to the dopamine receptor D2 and can measure dopamine release during pleasure or anticipatory reward associated with sex. The current proposal will measure changes in DRD2 receptor occupancy using 11 C Raclopride following explicit visual sexual desire cues in healthy control subjects and individuals who suffer from sexual dysfunction. This is in order to determine how individual genotypes modulate dopamine release in vivo in the human brain.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

40

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A group of healthy volunteers from the general public. A group of patients who suffer from sexual disorder from a primary care clinic.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy volunteers and patients
  • Age 21-65
  • Male or female

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Psychiatric diagnosis/psychosis
  • Neurological damage associated with loss of consciousness
  • Infectious disease HIV
  • Herpes
  • Syphilis
  • Hyperactivity treated with ritalin
  • Pregnant women
  • Under age

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
1
Healthy control subjects (n=20) age 21-65 who do not suffer from a psychiatric diagnosis or neurological damage, are under age, or are pregnant women
2
20 patients who suffer from sexual disorder (reduced sexual desire or sexual function) from a sexual disorder clinic, age 21-65, without any other psychiatric disorder, neurological damage, are not under age or pregnant women.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Brain Imaging data of DRD2 receptor occupancy during watching a sex videotape and neutral videotape
Time Frame: 2 Brain imaging sessions a week apart
2 Brain imaging sessions a week apart

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Questionnaire ratings of human sexuality, pleasure, and anticipatory reward
Time Frame: Taken during brain scans
Taken during brain scans

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Aviv M Weinstein, Ph.D, Hadasah Medical Organization, Jerusalem Israel

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

October 1, 2011

Study Completion (Anticipated)

October 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 6, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 6, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

December 7, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 10, 2010

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 9, 2010

Last Verified

June 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 281207HMO-CTIL
  • First 978[1].07

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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