The Role of the Glutamatergic System in the Extinction of Conditioned Reinforcement Processes

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The aim of this project is to explore whether the extinction of cue-reactivity following a cue-exposure based intervention in volunteers with an alcohol dependence is facilitated by drugs that increase NMDA-receptor function.

It is hypothesised that targeted treatment with D-Cycloserine prior to each extinction training session enhances the effects on cue-reactivity.

Further, a significant correlation between the reduction of cue-reactivity and both reduced craving and relapse probability is expected.

• Phase: Phase 2/Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim
• Collaborator: German Research Foundation
• Treatments: Cycloserine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• current DSM-IV/ ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence

• controlled abstinence for a period of 5 to 21 days following admission to inpatient detoxification or day-clinic care

• women (in childbearing age): use of a highly effective method of contraception

• normal or corrected-to-normal vision

• ability to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of additional axis I or II disorders (according to DSM-IV( ICD- 10 criteria) either currently or within the past 12 months (except nicotine dependence)

• positive drug screening

• current medication with anti-convulsive or psychotropic drugs

• MRI ineligibility

• sensitivity to study medication as evidenced by a history of adverse drug experience

• severe withdrawal symptoms (e.g. convulsions, delirium)

• disposition towards experiencing convulsions/ epilepsy

• history of schizophrenic disorders/ affective psychosis

• neurological diseases that might affect the dopaminergic, limbic and frontal cortices or extrapyramidal motor functioning

• major diseases (e.g. diabetes, liver cirrhosis, heart disease)

• physical illness interfering with study procedures or affecting study outcomes

• pregnancy (positive test results)/ lactation period

• suicidal tendencies/ increased risk that others might be harmed -