The aim of the present study is to examine Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) availability in humans, including healthy individuals and across a spectrum of psychiatric disorders in which alterations in the endocannabinoid system are observed.
This study involves in vivo examination of FAAH availability, implicated both in the pathophysiology and therapeutics of disorders including PTSD, substance use disorders (e.g., alcohol use disorder, cannabis/cannabinoid use disorder, nicotine use disorder), psychotic disorders including schizophrenia, and mood disorders. The endocannabinoid system is a neuromodulatory system that has been implicated across a wide range of psychiatric disorders and may be implicated in the regulation of mood, appetitive behaviors, sleep, and cognition. Thus, alterations in the ECS have wide ranging implications. Finally, the ECS is being explored as a novel therapeutic target for several psychiatric disorders. Additionally, the test/retest reliability of the radiotracer, \[11C\]MK-3168, will be studied in up to 10 healthy control individuals.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6
One PET scan involving administration of PET ligand \[11C\]MK-3168
Connecticut Mental Health Center
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Total distribution of [11C]MK-3168 in the brain
FAAH availability will be approximated using the FAAH positron emission tomography (PET) tracer \[11C\]MK-3168 total distribution
Time frame: PET scan day
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