Cannabinoid Control of Fear Extinction Neural Circuits in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The goal of this study is to look at how a type of drug called cannabinoids are related to
the processing of fear signals, the experience of emotions and fear, and the pattern of
activity in the brain that is involved in these processes and how this relates to the
development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs
after experiencing a traumatic event(s) and is characterized by unwanted memories of the
trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of situations that remind the person of
the event, difficulty experiencing emotions, loss of interest in activities the person used
to enjoy, and increased arousal, such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, anger
and hypervigilance. The information gained from this study could lead to the development of
new treatments for persons who suffer from anxiety or fear-based disorders.