Effects of Acute Prucalopride Administration in Healthy Volunteers

The Effect of a Single Dose of Prucalopride on Emotional Processing in Healthy Volunteers

This study will investigate whether administration of a single dose of the serotonin receptor subtype 4 (5-HT4) partial agonist prucalopride has effects on emotional processing and non-emotional cognition in healthy volunteers, compared to placebo administration. Using an experimental medicine approach, the effects of prucalopride on cognitive biomarkers of antidepressant action will be characterised. In a double-blind design, participants will be randomised to receive a single dose of either prucalopride (1mg) or placebo. All participants will come for a Screening Visit to ensure their suitability for the study. If they meet study criteria, they will be invited to a Research Visit, where they will receive the study medication and wait for two hours while the drug reaches peak levels. After two hours they will be asked to complete a series of computer-based tasks measuring emotional, non-emotional cognitive processing, and reward processing. The primary study hypothesis is that acute prucalopride administration will have positive effects on processing facial expressions of emotion. Secondary hypotheses are that acute prucalopride administration will affect other measures of emotional processing, and non-emotional cognition.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female
• Aged 18-40 years
• Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study
• Sufficiently fluent English to understand and complete the task

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current usage of psychoactive medication (except the contraceptive pill, the Depo-Provera injection or the progesterone implant)
• Any past or current Axis 1 DSM-IV psychiatric disorder
• Significant medical condition
• Current or past gastro-intestinal disorder or irritable bowel syndrome
• Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Known lactate deficiency or any other problem absorbing lactose, galactose or glucose
• Current or past history of drug or alcohol dependency
• Participation in a psychological or medical study involving the use of medication within the last 3 months
• Previous participation in a study using the same, or similar, emotional processing tasks
• Smoker > 5 cigarettes per day
• Typically drinks > 6 caffeinated drinks per day