Effects of Oxytocin and Lorazepam on Fear-related Intra-amygdalar Activity
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-08-16
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
High-potency benzodiazepines have strong anxiolytic effects accompanied by significant
adverse effects including impaired cognitive function, drowsiness, dizziness and impaired
motoric abilities. Importantly, the long-term use of benzodiazepines may produce dependence
and withdrawal. Therefore, there is considerable scientific and public interest in
identifying new anxiolytic agents.
The hypothalamic peptide oxytocin (OXT) has anxiolytic effects both in healthy participants
and patients with anxiety disorders by decreasing fear-associated amygdala activity. However,
so far no human study has directly compared the underlying anxiolytic mechanisms of OXT and
established anxiolytic agents on amygdala activity. Importantly, the amygdala is not a
homogenous structure but rather consists of several subdivisions with structural and
functional differences.
Therefore, the rationale of the present project is to determine the effects of intranasal OXT
and the high-potency benzodiazepine lorazepam on fear-associated responses in intra-amygdalar
subregions.
Phase:
Phase 1
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University Hospital, Bonn
Collaborator:
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany