Project Summary

Alexander Neumeister, M.D. (Independent Investigator 2007) of Yale University, is studying the neurobiological causes of depression. Ligand-based imaging techniques, while they have been applied to depression, have not been utilized to examine systematically the co-occurrence of early life trauma and depression. A growing body of evidence suggests that the 5-HT1B receptor, involved in serotonin signaling, might play an important role in buffering the impact of stress. The project will employ [11C]CE-142,943, a selective, high affinity 5-HT1B receptor antagonist, and PET imaging to investigate 5-HT1B receptor binding potential in depressed subjects with and without a history of life trauma. The study will fill a major gap in our understanding of serotonergic effects on the neurobiology of stress and susceptibility to depression with direct implications for treatment development in these patient populations.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Unipolar

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