Body and Social Behavior

Completed · Phase 4 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Psychology, Social, Inflammation, Defeat, Social, Interaction, Social

In brief

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the influenza vaccine will shed important light on how the immune system responds to different positive and negative social experiences. Building on the nuanced animal literature showing that, while animals exposed to an inflammatory challenge show reductions in social exploration consistent with the sickness behavior of social withdrawal, they actually show increases in social engagement behavior during interactions with a cage mate or pair-bonded animal. The present study will examine if a mild inflammatory challenge (receipt of the influenza vaccine) leads to change in actual social behavior in interactions, specifically toward a stranger and separately, toward a close friend. This study will also build on foundational animal research showing that an inflammatory challenge leads to social defeat behaviors in animals.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05654441

Run by

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

People needed

104

Starts

2022-10-17

Expected to finish

2023-12-15

Last updated by the study team

2024-11-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 18-35 years old
• Have a same-gender friend willing to participate in the second study session

You may not qualify if…

• Are not a student
• Have already received the annual influenza vaccine or had the flu this season
• Report current illness/sickness symptoms, including upper respiratory symptoms
• Report any major medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma)
• Use mood or immune altering medications (e.g., anti-depressants)
• Current regular nicotine/tobacco use (i.e., daily use of cigarettes or e-cigarettes)
• Have an allergy to eggs
• Have had COVID-19 in past two weeks
• Current or history of depression or anxiety
• Have had Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Are allergic to vaccine or ingredients present in vaccine
• Have had an adverse reaction to a blood draw, including to needles or sight or blood
• Weigh less than 110 pounds
• Are unwilling to be video/audio recorded during the social interaction tasks
• Are unwilling to be unmasked during the social interaction tasks

Where it is running

• Clinical and Translation Research Center — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
• Howell Hall — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.