Clinical TrialNeuroimaging & Brain MeasuresCompleted

Functional Brain Imaging in Recreational Users of Ecstasy

Observational case-control study (n=18) comparing recreational MDMA users and healthy controls using SPECT with [123I]IBZM to assess dopaminergic function before and after a motorbike-riding computer task.

Target Enrollment
18 participants
Study Type
Phase NA observational
Design
Non-randomized

Detailed Description

Investigators compared chronic recreational MDMA (ecstasy) users with healthy control subjects to assess whether ecstasy use is associated with deficient dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Participants underwent SPECT imaging with [123I]IBZM (a D2 receptor radiotracer) at baseline and after performing a motorbike-riding computer game to measure dopamine release and D2 binding.

Preliminary findings showed lower baseline D2 measures and reduced displacement of [123I]IBZM by endogenous dopamine in ecstasy users compared with controls, while task performance (reaction time) did not differ.

Study Arms & Interventions

Ecstasy users

experimental

Chronic/ex-users of ecstasy (MDMA).

Controls

active comparator

Healthy control subjects matched for study procedures.

Participants

Ages
18 – 65
Sexes
Male & Female

Inclusion Criteria

  • Chronic users of ecstasy, and healthy controls, with no other diseases or drug abuse
  • Minimum age: 18 years; Maximum age: 65 years

Exclusion Criteria

  • Pregnant and breast feeding women
  • Aged below 18
  • Neurological disorders
  • Drug abuse (other than ecstasy for the user group)

Study Details

  • Status
    Completed
  • Phase
    Phase NA
  • Type
    observational
  • Design
    Non-randomized
  • Target Enrollment18 participants
  • Timeline
    Start: 2006-01-01
    End: 2011-07-01
  • Topic
    Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

Locations

Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Hadassah Hospital, Ein Kerem — Jerusalem, Israel

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