The Role of Dopamine in Reward and Punishment Processing in Depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Role of Dopamine in Reward and Punishment Processing in Depression
IRAS ID
216333
Contact name
Eileen Joyce
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2017/01/78 , data protection number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Depression is a severe psychiatric condition that results in substantial social and occupational dysfunction and its causes remain poorly understood.
One central feature of depression is a disruption in the processing of rewards and punishments. While much depression research focuses on the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline, disruption of dopamine transmission in the brain is a potential cause of reward and punishment processing impairment, which underpins several clinically observed and debilitating symptoms of depression such as anhedonia, low motivation and pessimism/hopelessness.
The aim of this study is to further our understanding of the role that disruption of dopamine transmission plays in the disruption of reward and punishment processing impairment seen in depression.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0686
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion