fMRI Study Examining Effects of D-cycloserine in Specific Phobia

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2012-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The research team hopes to use brain imaging and mental testing to learn more about specific phobias and the treatment of phobia. When given directly prior to therapy sessions, D-cycloserine has been shown to enhance the effects of therapy. This study hopes to identify reasons why D-cycloserine has this effect by measuring brain activity.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Cary Savage, Ph.D.; University of Kansas Medical Center
• Collaborators: American Psychological Association; American Psychological Foundation; University of Kansas
• Treatments: Cycloserine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Right-handed

• Adults between 18 and 55 years of age

• Subjects in the phobic group will additionally meet diagnostic (DSM-IV) criteria for spider phobia.

• Individuals of both genders and all races will be included

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant

• Individuals with medical conditions unsuitable for MR scanning

• Individuals reporting a history of epilepsy or seizures

• Individuals reporting an allergy to cycloserine

• Individuals diagnosed with asthma or who report previous anaphylactic reaction to insect stings/bites, medication, food, or other material and/or event

• Individuals reporting present or past diagnosis of a developmental disorder, neurological disorder, or head injury *Individuals found to have Axis I psychopathology as defined by the DSM-IV (other than spider phobia)

• Individuals currently taking any psychotropic medication