Actively Recruiting
7T Amygdala and Citalopram Study
Led by University of Oxford · Updated on 2025-02-21
50
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
89 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study is to investigate how a common antidepressant citalopram (which increases the levels of the chemical messenger serotonin), affects how a key area of the brain involved in depression (the amygdala) responds to emotional information. Healthy participants will undergo medical and psychiatric health screening, after which they will be assigned to receive either a single dose of citalopram (20mg) or placebo, and undergo brain scanning (7T fMRI) whilst viewing emotional faces. Since the scan uses high field strength, the investigators will be able to see effects of citalopram on different subfields within the amygdala which will help to understand how citalopram might be working.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
7T Amygdala and Citalopram Study
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the research
- Sufficiently fluent English to understand and complete the task
You will not qualify if you...
- Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body or implanted devices unsafe for MRI
- Any contraindication to MRI following safety screening
- History or current significant psychiatric illness such as major depressive disorder
- Current or past diagnosis of significant personality disorders
- Diagnosis of ADHD or autism spectrum disorder that affects daily functioning or study integrity
- Use of psychoactive medications currently or within last 3 months without further discussion
- Use of medications interacting with citalopram or affecting study integrity currently or within last 3 months
- Known contraindications to citalopram including allergies, cardiovascular conditions, glaucoma, diabetes, epilepsy, or medications prolonging QT interval
- Medical conditions that may interfere with safety or study integrity including epilepsy, brain injury, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, severe gastrointestinal problems, CNS tumors, neurological conditions
- Clinically significant abnormal urine drug screen, pulse, or blood pressure unless investigator approves
- Current alcohol or substance misuse disorder
- Body Mass Index under 18 or over 30
- Pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- Previous participation in similar studies involving MRI faces tasks or emotional test batteries
- Participation in studies with psychoactive medication or brain stimulation in last three months
- Use of recreational drugs within last three months
- Smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day or vaping more than 0.5ml per day
- Typically consuming more than 6 caffeinated drinks per day
- Likely inability to comply with study protocol or unsuitable for other reasons per investigator's judgment
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, OX37JX
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Marieke AG Martens, DPhil
CONTACT
C
Catherine J Harmer, DPhil
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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