This within-subject, double blind, randomized controlled study will investigate the effects of a widely used benzodiazepine (BZD), lorazepam, on various neuroimaging measures. The investigators will be assessing the relationship of lorazepam to resting state functional connectivity and other neuroimaging measures. Specifically, the investigators will be using a pre-identified metric, the striatal connectivity index (SCI), (Sarpal et al. 2015, 2016), a prognostic biomarker of treatment response assessing the connectivity between regions of the striatum and the cortex. The investigators hypothesize that lorazepam administration will be associated with greater SCI values compared with placebo administration; consistent with previous work suggesting short-acting benzodiazepines increase functional connectivity across brain networks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
1 mg, white, five-sided (shield shape) tablet with a raised "A" on one side and "BPI" and "64" impressed on scored reverse side. NDC 0187-0064-01 - Bottles of 100 tablets; NDC 0187-0064-50 - Bottles of 500 tablets; NDC 0187-0064-10 - Bottles of 1000 tablets. The pharmacy at the Zucker Hillside Hospital will encapsulate both lorazepam 1 mg and placebo pills to make them look the same. On the day of the scan, the research coordinator or the PI will pick up the blinded study medication (lorazepam or placebo) and will administer it to the participant. One hour later, the participant will be placed in the scanner to complete the MRI.
Placebo will be purchased and encapsulated by the pharmacy at the Zucker Hillside Hospital.
The Zucker Hillside Hospital
Glen Oaks, New York, United States
To understand the impact of lorazepam on functional connectivity measures collected using resting state functional magnetic imaging (rs-fMRI).
SCI, a parameter that captures the connectivity between the stratum and the cortex, is a primary candidate for a prognostic biomarker that may guide individual treatment. Exploratory functional connectivity analyses between other brain regions will be conducted as well.
Time frame: 2 weeks
The goal is to study the impact of lorazepam on glutamate, glutamine and GABA in the striatum.
Metabolite concentrations measured in parts per million (ppm) for Glutamate, glutamine and GABA; obtained with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS).
Time frame: 2 weeks
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