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Study on Naltrexone and Social Support for Fear Response

This study at UCLA is looking for healthy adults aged 18-35 to understand how a medication called naltrexone affects our ability to overcome fear, especially when we have social support. Naltrexone is a drug that blocks the effects of opioids in the body. Researchers want to see if naltrexone stops social support from helping people learn to not be afraid of something that was once threatening (this process is called fear extinction). Half of the participants will receive a single dose of naltrexone, and the other half will receive a placebo (an inactive pill). The study will measure fear responses immediately after a fear extinction procedure and again 24 hours later. They plan to enroll 60 participants, but the current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 60 participants. Half will randomly receive naltrexone and the other half a placebo.
What's involved
You will go through email, telephone, in-lab, and health screenings. During the experiment, you will take a capsule and participate in a fear extinction procedure, with a follow-up session 24 hours later.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your fear response will be measured directly after the fear extinction procedure and again 24 hours later.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04166071

Opioids and Social Support Enhanced Extinction Effects

Enrolling by Invitation
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 18–35InterventionalBasic science
University of California, Los Angeles
~60 participants
Updated 2025-10-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:NaltrexonePlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Fear Response directly post-extinction
Measured over Directly following a fear extinction procedure (during the experiment session).
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Fear

Explore related trials

Fear

Where it's being run

2 sites across 1 states
California2

Study leadership

  • Naomi Eisenberger, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, Los Angeles

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

healthy adults 18 and 35
fluent in English
no history of mental illness (including anxiety, depression, phobia, or any other mental health related disorder diagnosed by a mental health professional)

Exclusion

pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the experiment period
presence of chronic mental illness (as determined by the report of a past diagnosis of mental illness by a physician or psychologist and/or the prescription of medication related to mental health disorder; including anxiety, depression, phobia, or any other diagnosed psychological disorder)
chronic physical illness (as determined by past diagnosis and/or treatment by a physician)
history of liver disease or abnormal liver function
current and regular use of prescription medications related to mental health disorders or liver function
previous history of fainting during blood draws
difficulty or discomfort swallowing pills
history of substance abuse or addiction (especially alcohol or opiate abuse)

What this trial measures

  • Fear Response directly post-extinctionDirectly following a fear extinction procedure (during the experiment session).

    presence of fear response as indicated by significantly higher galvanic skin response (GSR: an index of peripheral stress responding) to a previously learned fearful image (CS+) compared to a baseline comparator (CS-: never learned to be fearful).

  • Fear Response 24-hours post-extinction24 hours following the completion of the fear extinction procedure (during a follow-up fear reinstatement session).

    presence of fear response as indicated by significantly higher galvanic skin response (GSR: an index of peripheral stress responding) to a previously learned fearful image (CS+) compared to a baseline comparator (CS-: never learned to be fearful).