Brain scans reveal how opioid addiction warps Decision-Making

NCT ID NCT03958474

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Joshua A. Lile, Ph.D. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This completed early-phase study looked at how opioid use disorder changes the way people make decisions. Twelve adults with moderate to severe opioid use disorder completed gambling tasks and had brain scans while receiving oxycodone, placebo, or remifentanil. The goal was to understand the brain processes behind poor choices during addiction and withdrawal.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: oxycodone and remifentanil
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help design better treatments for opioid addiction by understanding how the brain makes choices during withdrawal.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small study with only 12 people, so results may not apply to everyone. It focuses on understanding, not treating, the disorder.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for OPIOID-USE DISORDER are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

opiate dependence

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

OPIOID-USE DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Laboratory of Human Behavioral Pharmacology

Lexington, Kentucky, 40536-0086, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.