Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Psychosis is characterized by key positive symptoms and evidence potentially implicates the nociceptin receptor (NOPr) system in these processes. This pilot study investigates in vivo NOPr expression in individuals on the psychosis spectrum using the [11C]NOP-1A radioligand and positron emission tomography (PET). Evidence for dysregulation in dopamine, glutamate, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is presented, followed by evidence of NOPr involvement in each of these systems. This pilot study aimed to assess feasibility, including recruitment, study procedures, and timeline, and also sample size estimation. Eight individuals with psychosis and eight healthy control individuals successfully completed study procedures. Results demonstrate that a total of 25 individuals would be needed in each group to detect a 20% difference between groups with 80% power and an alpha of 0.05, and the methodology employed in this internal pilot study would be appropriate to conduct a study with a larger sample size in the future.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Muhammad Saad Khan
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3014350280