Recent studies show that 25 - 30% of depressed patients never fully recover, resulting in a
treatment-resistant condition. Thus, depression is a major cause of human suffering. We are
interested in finding new ways of identifying and alleviating treatment-resistant depression,
and we believe that recent advances in brain imaging can contribute to achieving that goal.
In this project, we will use a novel compound ([N-methyl-11C]mirtazapine) that we invented
for examining the neurochemistry of brain receptors involved in antidepressant actions.
Our compound, [N-methyl-11C]mirtazapine, is closely related to the clinically effective
antidepressant drug mirtazapine (Remeron®). It labels several types of noradrenergic
receptors that have often been implicated in "stress reactions" as well as depressive
disorders. We believe that our compound can identify specific molecular brain dysfunctions
that are causally related to treatment-resistant depression.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a reliable relationship between
the level of mirtazapine in the bloodstream and the occupancy of neuroreceptors by
mirtazapine in the brain. We will apply our standard procedures of PET brain scanning and
region-of-interest data analysis, using healthy volunteers who will receive a daily dose of
mirtazapine (double-blind design with placebo, 7.5 mg or 15 mg daily for 5 days). We believe
that this project could provide a procedure for assessing brain function in
treatment-resistant depression, with the aim of improving the guidelines for successful,
evidence-based treatment of depression.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Aarhus
Collaborators:
Fund for Advancement of Medical Science Max Woerzner's Research Award The Danish Medical Research Council