The influence and interaction of the dopaminergic and endocannabinoid system on extinction learning mechanisms (B10*)

• Subject Area: Clinical Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 44541416

Current treatment of anxiety related disorders suffers from relapse of symptoms, even after successful therapy. This project aims to examine neuropharmacological mechanisms (using fMRI) contributing to the extinction of fear in order to strengthen its long-term efficiency. To this end, pharmacological challenges of the dopamine system and genetic variation of the endocannabinoid system are studied separately as well as their interaction are examined. These insights might pave the way for future augmented treatment of anxiety related disorders.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 58: Fear, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Co-Applicant Institution: Universität Hamburg
• Project Head: Dr. Jan Haaker