Examination of Glutamate and mGluR5 in Psychiatric Disorders

With the recent advancements in positron emission tomography (PET) and radioligand development, the investigators are now able to image and quantify the metabotropic glutamatergic system (mGluR5) in vivo in human subjects. The study proposes a novel investigation of mGluR5 in depression to obtain critical data to advance understanding of the etiology of depression and its associated symptoms of cognitive dysfunction.

Aim 1: To determine mGluR5 availability in individuals with mood disorders compared to healthy controls as measured with PET brain imaging.

Hypothesis 1: The study hypothesizes a decrease in mGluR5 availability in individuals with mood disorders in regions responsible for emotional and cognitive processes, including the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, anterior cingulate, and frontal cortices.

Aim 2: To determine if glutamate cycling in individuals with mood disorders is altered as compared to healthy controls as measured with [1H]MRS and [13C]MRS.

Hypothesis 2: The study hypothesizes an increase in glutamate number in individuals with mood disorders as compared to controls.

Aim 3: To determine if the PET alterations in the glutamatergic system of depressed individuals are associated with cognitive deficits observed in depression, including concentration, attention, memory, distractibility, and startle.

Hypothesis 3: The study hypothesizes a positive relationship between mGluR5 availability and cognitive functioning, such that individuals with higher receptor availability will perform better on tests of concentration, attention, memory, distractibility, and startle than individuals with lower receptor availability.

Aim 4: To determine mGluR5 availability in individuals with anxiety and schizophrenia compared to healthy controls as measured with PET brain imaging.

Hypothesis 4: Anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, and delusional disorders such as schizophrenia are frequently comorbid with mood disorders, and the glutamatergic system has been observed to be compromised in these individuals as well. This study will examine if there are regional differences in mGluR5 availability between individuals with depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia.

Aim 5: To examine whether changes in mGluR5 availability are dependent on state, or whether the lower availability is due to trait.

Hypothesis 5: Due to changes in endogenous GLU shown with MRS studies, this study hypothesizes normalization (or increase) in mGluR5 availability in euthymia as compared to depressed state.

Inclusion criteria

General inclusion criteria:

• Subjects will be between the ages of 18-70 years old
• English speaking
• No other DSM-5 diagnosis present, besides required as below

Inclusion criteria

for acute depressed subjects:

• Clinical diagnosis of a current depressive episode
• Medication-free for at least 2 weeks or medicated with a permissible medication

Inclusion criteria

for PTSD subjects:

• Clinical diagnosis of current PTSD as per DSM-5
• Medication free for at least 2 weeks or medicated with a permissible medication

Inclusion criteria

for healthy controls:

• No current, or history of, any DSM-5 diagnosis

Exclusion criteria

• Have a current or past significant medical, neurological or metabolic disorder or head injury that lead to significant long term decline in cognitive abilities as seen by decline in grades or work performance
• Have significant medical illness such that would contraindicate study participation based on above criteria and PI/MD history review
• Have active, significant suicidal ideation
• Have implanted metallic devices or any MR contraindications
• Are women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Met DSM-5 criteria for mild substance use disorder (except nicotine and marijuana) within the past 6 months or met DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe substance use disorder (except nicotine and marijuana) within the past year
• Have history of prior radiation exposure for research purposes within the past year such that participation in this study would place them over FDA limits for annual radiation exposure. This guideline is an effective dose of 5 rem received per year
• Have given a blood donation within eight weeks of the start of the study
• Have history of a bleeding disorder or are currently taking anticoagulants (such as Coumadin, Heparin, Pradaxa, Xarelto)