Effects of losartan on emotional processing

The Effects of Single-dose Losartan on Cognitive Flexibility and Learning in Healthy Adults: a Randomised Controlled Study

This study tests whether a single dose of losartan can change how healthy adults process emotions compared to a placebo.

Quick facts

• Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 50 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Oxford (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
• Trial ID: NCT06628154 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates how a single dose of losartan (50mg) affects emotional processing in healthy volunteers aged 18-50. It employs a double-blind, randomized design to compare the effects of losartan against a placebo. The research focuses on the renin-angiotensin system, which is known to influence cognitive functions related to anxiety and depression. By examining these effects, the study aims to enhance understanding of emotional disorders and identify potential treatment synergies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy volunteers aged 18-50 who meet specific psychological criteria and are non- or light-smokers.

Not a fit: Patients with significant psychiatric diagnoses or those on certain medications may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to new insights into treating emotional disorders by leveraging the effects of losartan.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated that angiotensin receptor blockers may improve emotional processing, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Willing and able to provide informed consent
* Aged 18-50 years
* Score of or below 45 on the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS; Rizvi et al., 2015)
* Sufficient written and spoken English skills to understand what the study involves, and to complete the questionnaires
* Non- or light-smoker (5 cigarettes a day)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Past or present DSM-5 axis-I diagnosis (based on SCID results at screening) other than anxiety disorder, dysthymia or unipolar depression
* First-degree family member with severe psychiatric illness
* CNS-medication last 6 weeks (including as part of another study)
* Current blood pressure or other heart medication (especially aliskiren or beta blockers)
* Diagnosis of intravascular fluid depletion or dehydration
* History of angioedema
* Impaired kidney function (based on self-report)
* Very low blood pressure (defined as repeated (at least three consecutive measurements) measures of blood pressure under standardised conditions where either the systolic or the diastolic blood pressure or both are below 90/50 mmHg (in accordance with established standard definitions: DOI 10.1186/s12887-016-0633-7))
* Lifetime history of epilepsy or other neurological disease (e.g. autism, ADHD)
* Lifetime history of systemic infection, or clinically significant hepatic, cardiac, obstructive respiratory, renal, cerebrovascular, metabolic, endocrine or pulmonary disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the study, or may influence the result of the study, or the participant's ability to participate in the study
* Significant loss of hearing that is not corrected with a hearing device
* Women: pregnancy, breast-feeding

Where this trial is running

Oxford, Oxfordshire

• Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford — Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Andrea Reinecke, PhD — University of Oxford
• Study coordinator: Andrea Reinecke, PhD

Conditions: Emotional Processing, emotional processing, reward, anxiety, depression