CI

At a glance

ClinicalIndex Comparison Record
Phase 4Completed· 120 enrolled / 120 target
Drug / intervention
Buprenorphine +4 moredrug
Likely dose
Buprenorphine 0.3mgfrom record
Structured eligibility isn't available for this trial yet — see the full criteria in the Eligibility tab below.

Standardized by ClinicalIndex from the ClinicalTrials.gov record · verify against the source.

Search/NCT04276259
NCT04276259Phase 4CompletedHigh Momentum (1.8/mo)Completion was 5mo ago

Neurocomputational Mechanisms of Mood Improvement

Marta Peciña, MD PhD·interventional·Posted Feb 19, 2020·Updated Jun 23, 2026

In Brief

A Phase 4 clinical trial evaluating Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and 3 other interventions for Major Depressive Disorder and Depression. Completed, enrolled 120 participants across 1 site.

Signals

Enrolling ahead of pace

Detailed Summary

The central goal of this application is to demonstrate the causal contribution of reward learning signals (expected values and reward prediction errors \[RPE\]) to antidepressant responses (Aim1) by experimentally manipulating expected values using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting the vmPFC (Aim 2) and μ-opioid striatal RPE signal using pharmacological approaches (Aim 3).

Study Details

Study Typeinterventional
Allocation--
Masking--
Primary Purpose--
CountriesUnited States

Timeline

Phase 4CompletedFinished
2020202120222023202420252026
First PostedFeb 19, 2020
Enrollment StartOct 19, 2020
Primary CompletionJan 21, 2026
Study CompletionMar 31, 2026
TodayJul 2, 2026
Enrollment to primary: 5.3 yearsPosted 6.4 years ago

Arms & Interventions

Buprenorphine Injection + Oral Placebo Pillexperimental

Buprenorphine is a μ-opioid partial agonist and kappa-opioid antagonist that is used to treat moderate to severe pain and opioid dependence. The intramuscular administered opioid agonist which will be used to modulate reward learning signals to understand placebo effects in patients with depression. In the buprenorphine condition, participants will receive one IM injection of 0.3mg/1ML buprenorphine hydrochloride (Buprenex®. Richmond, VA: Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2006) (onset of action: ≥15 minutes; peak effect: \~1 hour; duration: \~6 hours) and an oral placebo tablet.

Drug: BuprenorphineDrug: Oral PlaceboDevice: Theta burst stimulation (TBS) of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
Naltrexone Oral Tablet + Intramuscular Saline Injectionexperimental

Naltrexone is thought to strongly block μ-opioid receptors. Oral (pill) opioid antagonist which will be used to modulate reward learning signals to understand placebo effects in participants with depression. In the naltrexone condition, participants will receive one tablet of 50mg Naltrexone hydrochloride (ReVia®. Toronto, ON: Teva Canada Limited; 2015) (onset of action: ≥15 minutes; peak effect: \~1 hour; duration: \~24 hours) and a saline IM injection.

Drug: NaltrexoneDrug: IM PlaceboDevice: Theta burst stimulation (TBS) of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
Oral Placebo Pill + Intramuscular Saline Injectionexperimental

Inert pill and saline injection that have no inherent power to produce an effect. In the inert pill condition, participants will receive one IM arm injection of saline (1ML) and an oral placebo tablet.

Drug: Oral PlaceboDrug: IM PlaceboDevice: Theta burst stimulation (TBS) of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

Interventions

Buprenorphinedrug

Buprenorphine is a μ-opioid partial agonist and kappa-opioid antagonist that is used to treat moderate to severe pain and opioid dependence. The intramuscular administered opioid agonist which will be used to modulate reward learning signals to understand placebo effects in patients with depression. In the buprenorphine condition, participants will receive one IM injection of 0.3mg/1ML buprenorphine hydrochloride (Buprenex®. Richmond, VA: Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2006) (onset of action: ≥15 minutes; peak effect: \~1 hour; duration: \~6 hours) and an oral placebo tablet.

Naltrexonedrug

Naltrexone is thought to strongly block μ-opioid receptors. Oral (pill) opioid antagonist which will be used to modulate reward learning signals to understand placebo effects in participants with depression. In the naltrexone condition, participants will receive one tablet of 50mg Naltrexone hydrochloride (ReVia®. Toronto, ON: Teva Canada Limited; 2015) (onset of action: ≥15 minutes; peak effect: \~1 hour; duration: \~24 hours) and a saline IM injection.

Oral Placebodrug

Oral placebo: to match the oral naltrexone.

IM Placebodrug

IM saline placebo: to match the i.v. buprenorphine.

Theta burst stimulation (TBS) of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.device

Participants will receive two blocks of each TBS form. During the first block, stimulation intensity will be gradually escalated in 5% increments (from 80% to 110% rMT) in order to enhance tolerability. In all conditions, the investigators will apply 600 pulses of theta burst at 110% RMT. Each block of iTBS will consist of 20 trains, each lasting 2s with intertrain intervals of 8s, for a total of 192s. Each block of cTBS will consist of one continuous train of 40s. The sTBS will make use of two surface electrodes placed on the scalp.