Investigating the effects of citalopram on brain response to emotions
The Effects of Citalopram on the Brain's Response to Faces
NA · University of Oxford · NCT06412315
This study tests how the antidepressant citalopram affects the brain's response to emotions in healthy people by comparing brain scans after taking the medication or a placebo.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Oxford (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Oxford, Oxfordshire) |
| Trial ID | NCT06412315 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to explore how the antidepressant citalopram influences the amygdala's response to emotional stimuli by utilizing advanced 7T fMRI technology. Healthy participants will receive either a single dose of citalopram or a placebo and will undergo brain scans while viewing emotional faces. The research focuses on understanding the distinct roles of different amygdala subfields in emotional processing, which may reveal new insights into the mechanisms of antidepressant action. By examining these effects, the study seeks to clarify how serotonin modulation impacts emotional responses in the brain.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy individuals who are fluent in English and can provide informed consent.
Not a fit: Patients with significant psychiatric illnesses or those currently taking psychoactive medications may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of how antidepressants work, potentially leading to improved treatments for mood disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While studies have explored the effects of antidepressants on emotional processing, this specific approach using 7T fMRI to investigate amygdala subfields is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the research * Sufficiently fluent English to understand and complete the task Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with ferromagnetic objects in their bodies (e.g. metal implants, vessel clips, shrapnel injuries) or with implanted devices which may be damaged by the magnet (e.g. heart pacemakers) * Any other MRI contraindication following MRI safety screening * History or current significant psychiatric illness (like major depressive disorder) * Current or past diagnosis of any significant personality disorder (e.g. borderline personality disorder) according to self-report * Diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactive disorder or autistic spectrum disorder that impairs daily functioning, requires pharmacotherapy or in the opinion of the study medic would affect the scientific integrity of the study * Currently or within last 3 months taking psychoactive medications (requires further discussion with researcher) * Current or within the last 3 months use of medication that might interact with the effects of citalopram or affect the scientific integrity of the study * Known contraindication to citalopram including: past allergic reaction to citalopram or any other medicines, diagnosis of a cardiovascular condition, glaucoma, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, diagnosis of epilepsy, previous diagnosis of angle-closure glaucoma, or current use of any other medication whose use interacts with citalopram (according to British National Formulary (BNF) guidance) e.g. associated with prolonged QT-interval * Any other current or past medical conditions which in the opinion of the study medic may interfere with the safety of the participant or the scientific integrity of the study including epilepsy/seizures, brain injury, hepatic or renal disease, diabetes, severe gastro-intestinal problems, Central Nervous System (CNS) tumours, neurological conditions * Clinically significant abnormal values for urine drug screen, pulse, and blood pressure measurement (in accordance with Best Practice Guidance 13: 'Non-invasive measurement of blood pressure'). A participant with a clinical abnormality or parameters outside the reference range for the population being studied may be included only if the Investigator considers that the finding is unlikely to introduce additional risk factors and will not interfere with the study procedures * Current alcohol or substance misuse disorder * Body Mass Index under 18 and over 30 * Pregnant or planning a pregnancy, or breast feeding * Previously taken part in a study that used similar computer tasks (MRI faces task, emotional test battery) as those in the present study * Participation in a study that involves the use of a psychoactive medication or brain stimulation within the last three months * Use of recreational drugs (e.g. cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines) within last three months * Smoking \> 5 cigarettes per day, or vape a comparable amount (\> 0.5ml / a quarter of a 2ml vape); * Typically drinks \> 6 caffeinated drinks per day (e.g. tea, coffee, coca cola, Red Bull) * Participant is unlikely to comply with the clinical study protocol or is unsuitable for any other reason, in the opinion of the Investigator
Where this trial is running
Oxford, Oxfordshire
- University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry — Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Marieke AG Martens, DPhil
- Email: marieke.martens@psych.ox.ac.uk
- Phone: +441865 618338
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Emotional Processing, Cognition, Mood Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Depression, Antidepressants, Experimental medicine, Psychopharmacology