Differential Responses to Drugs and Sweet Tastes
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 19 |
| Updated: | 1/23/2019 |
| Start Date: | February 9, 2017 |
| End Date: | August 9, 2018 |
Hypomania, Amphetamine, and Preferences for Sweets
Young adults who exhibit "bipolar phenotype" (BPP), defined as occasional episodes of mood
elevation and heightened activity, are at risk for several psychiatric disorders, including
problem use of drugs and alcohol. Mood elevation has been linked to higher alcohol
consumption and alcohol use disorders. Individuals with BPP show elevated lifetime prevalence
of alcohol use disorders (between 39%-61%), figures that exceed those reported in both major
depression and schizophrenia. Recently, the investigators demonstrated in a controlled
laboratory study that individuals with BPP (but not meeting criteria for full Bipolar I
Disorder), report dampened responses to a single dose of alcohol, compared to placebo. In the
current study, the investigators seek to extend these findings to determine if young adults
reporting BPP, based on a questionnaire, will exhibit reduced responses to other rewarding
stimuli, such as d-amphetamine and sweet tastes. The investigators hypothesize that the BPP
individuals will exhibit dampened subjective responses to stimulant and sweet taste rewards
compared to healthy controls.
elevation and heightened activity, are at risk for several psychiatric disorders, including
problem use of drugs and alcohol. Mood elevation has been linked to higher alcohol
consumption and alcohol use disorders. Individuals with BPP show elevated lifetime prevalence
of alcohol use disorders (between 39%-61%), figures that exceed those reported in both major
depression and schizophrenia. Recently, the investigators demonstrated in a controlled
laboratory study that individuals with BPP (but not meeting criteria for full Bipolar I
Disorder), report dampened responses to a single dose of alcohol, compared to placebo. In the
current study, the investigators seek to extend these findings to determine if young adults
reporting BPP, based on a questionnaire, will exhibit reduced responses to other rewarding
stimuli, such as d-amphetamine and sweet tastes. The investigators hypothesize that the BPP
individuals will exhibit dampened subjective responses to stimulant and sweet taste rewards
compared to healthy controls.
This study will extend the understanding of risk factors for drug or alcohol misuse, or other
reward-related behaviors. The investigators previously showed that individuals who report
occasional feelings of high energy and excitability experience less effect from a single dose
of alcohol, compared to people who have not experienced these effects. Now the investigators
wish to determine if this dampened response also occurs with other rewards, namely feelings
of wellbeing after a dose of amphetamine, or liking of a sweet solution. Individuals who
exhibit the BPP (i.e., periods of excitability) also are more likely to develop alcohol
problems, substance misuse, and weight gain and obesity. Therefore, the investigators will
test the working hypothesis that young adults who report having these experiences, based on a
questionnaire measure (i.e., BPP individuals) will show dampened subjective responses to both
single oral doses of amphetamine or sweet palatable tastes. The investigators will also
obtain objective measures (e.g. Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia and heart rate) to amphetamine
and sweet taste, to establish whether the dampened subjective response extends to
physiological indices as well. This study will extend the previous literature regarding the
blunted effects of alcohol in BPP individuals and will suggest possible mechanisms that
promote broader addictive behaviors in individuals with mood disturbance. Importantly, the
investigators are proposing to test individuals at a relatively young age, 18-19 years. This
is important to identify a risk factor, that is thought to pre-date use of drugs. In older
participants, it would be difficult to separate the role of the pre-existing trait from the
effect of habitual drug or alcohol use that escalates markedly after age 20.
reward-related behaviors. The investigators previously showed that individuals who report
occasional feelings of high energy and excitability experience less effect from a single dose
of alcohol, compared to people who have not experienced these effects. Now the investigators
wish to determine if this dampened response also occurs with other rewards, namely feelings
of wellbeing after a dose of amphetamine, or liking of a sweet solution. Individuals who
exhibit the BPP (i.e., periods of excitability) also are more likely to develop alcohol
problems, substance misuse, and weight gain and obesity. Therefore, the investigators will
test the working hypothesis that young adults who report having these experiences, based on a
questionnaire measure (i.e., BPP individuals) will show dampened subjective responses to both
single oral doses of amphetamine or sweet palatable tastes. The investigators will also
obtain objective measures (e.g. Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia and heart rate) to amphetamine
and sweet taste, to establish whether the dampened subjective response extends to
physiological indices as well. This study will extend the previous literature regarding the
blunted effects of alcohol in BPP individuals and will suggest possible mechanisms that
promote broader addictive behaviors in individuals with mood disturbance. Importantly, the
investigators are proposing to test individuals at a relatively young age, 18-19 years. This
is important to identify a risk factor, that is thought to pre-date use of drugs. In older
participants, it would be difficult to separate the role of the pre-existing trait from the
effect of habitual drug or alcohol use that escalates markedly after age 20.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 18-19 years old
- BMI of 19-26
- Physical/EKG/Medical History/Medications Approved by Physician for d-amphetamine
- at least High School education
- Fluent in English
Exclusion Criteria:
- No Current Mood, Anxiety, Eating or Psychotic Disorder
- No current psychotropic medication
- No Recent Drug Dependence
- < 4 alcoholic drinks/day for males; < 3 alcoholic drinks/day for females (monthly
average)
- No weekly (or more frequent) illicit drug use
- No women who are pregnant, nursing, or planning pregnancy within 3 months (birth
control is okay)
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