Effects of psychiatric medications on decision-making study

Recruiting

18 years - 45 years

All

Phase N/A

54 participants needed

1 Location

Brief description of study

This study involves taking single doses of two common psychiatric medications – levodopa (Sinemet) and escitalopram (Lexapro) – and doing a few decision-making tasks. The purpose of the study is to understand how two chemicals in the brain, dopamine and serotonin, are involved in decision-making. This is not a form of treatment or therapy.

Detailed description of study

The study will take place at the Center for Human Phenomic Science at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (1st floor of the Mutch building, 51 N 39th St.) and will consist of four separate sessions. Your participation will take about 3 weeks total (this may vary depending on scheduling).

If you are interested, you will first do an intake visit (~1 hour) at which we will take a full medical history and physical exam to determine if you are eligible. If you are eligible, you will complete three 4-hour sessions, spaced apart by one week. You will take two pills at each session at different times. One of the pills will always be a placebo (i.e., inactive) pill. The other pill will be levodopa at one session, escitalopram at another session, and placebo at the third session. You will complete decision-making tasks at each session.

You will be paid $15 for the intake visit, and $40 for each of the three following test visits. You will get a $100 bonus if you complete all four sessions. You will also have a chance to earn bonuses in the tasks that you complete (~$30).

Therefore, if you are eligible and complete the whole study, you will earn at least $235 (potentially up to ~$265 total).

If you are interested, please fill out the survey at this link, as this will help us determine your initial eligibility:

https://redcap.med.upenn.edu/surveys/?s=TYXCXMMKCAF8CPTX

Eligibility of study

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

Conditions: Medical Research
Age: 18 years - 45 years
Gender: All

Updated on 04 Aug 2024. Study ID: 843535

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