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Observational Study on Cocaine Use Disorder and Brain Synaptic Density

This observational study aims to understand how cocaine use disorder affects the brain by comparing synaptic density (the connections between brain cells) in people with cocaine use disorder to healthy individuals. Researchers will use a special brain scan called an 11C-UCB-J PET scan to measure these connections in specific brain areas (ACC, vmPFC, and mOFC). You might be able to join if you are between 21 and 60 years old and are physically healthy. For those with cocaine use disorder, you must meet DSM-5 criteria and have recent cocaine use. Healthy participants must have negative drug tests. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This is an observational study with a planned enrollment of 80 participants, comparing individuals with cocaine use disorder to healthy controls.
What's involved
Healthy participants will have one MRI and one 11C-UCB-J PET scan. Participants with cocaine use disorder will stay as inpatients, undergoing one MRI, two 11C-UCB-J PET scans, and sleep studies.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants with cocaine use disorder will have outpatient follow-ups twice a week for up to nine weeks after their inpatient stay.

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

NCT04721418

Aberrant Synaptic Plasticity in Cocaine Use Disorder: A 11C-UCB-J PET Study

Active, Not Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 21–60Observational
Yale University
~80 participants
Updated 2026-08-25 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:11C-UCB-J

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Between-group (CUD vs. HC) comparisons in ACC.
Measured over CUD: After 3 weeks of inpatient abstinence. HC: At baseline as outpatient.
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Cocaine Use Disorder
Healthy Controls

Explore related trials

Cocaine Use DisorderHealthy Controls

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Connecticut1

Study leadership

  • Gustavo Angarita, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Yale University

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

Age 21-60 years
Physically healthy by medical history, physical, neurological, ECG and laboratory examinations
For females, a negative serum pregnancy test
For CUD: DSM-5 criteria for Cocaine Use Disorder and positive urine toxicology showing recent use
For HC: Negative urine toxicology

Exclusion

DSM-5 criteria for other substance use disorders (e.g., alcohol, opiates, sedative hypnotics), except for nicotine
A primary DSM-5 Axis I major psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, etc.) as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5)
A history of significant and/or uncontrolled medical or neurological illness
Current use of psychotropic and/or potentially psychoactive prescription medications
Medical contraindications to MRI procedure

What this trial measures

  • Between-group (CUD vs. HC) comparisons in ACC.CUD: After 3 weeks of inpatient abstinence. HC: At baseline as outpatient.

    Between-group comparisons of the fP-corrected total volume of distribution (VT/fP) in ACC.

  • Between-group (CUD vs. HC) comparisons in vmPFC.CUD: After 3 weeks of inpatient abstinence. HC: At baseline as outpatient.

    Between-group comparisons of the fP-corrected total volume of distribution (VT/fP) in vmPFC.

  • Between-group (CUD vs. HC) comparisons in mOFC.CUD: After 3 weeks of inpatient abstinence. HC: At baseline as outpatient.

    Between-group comparisons of the fP-corrected total volume of distribution (VT/fP) in mOFC.