Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years - 65Years
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
ID07221864

Decoding Emotional Dynamics Driving Mood Instability in Bipolar Disorder

Led by Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc. · Updated on 2026-04-17

72

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

N/A

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

L

Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.

Lead Sponsor

N

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how emotional states change over time in people with bipolar disorder (BD) compared to healthy individuals. The study aims to understand the brain processes behind mood instability and whether boosting positive emotions can help stabilize these changes. It focuses on adults with BD type I or II who are currently depressed or in a mixed state, compared to healthy controls without psychiatric history. Participants complete two visits: a preparation session with interviews and questionnaires, followed by a brain MRI session. During MRI, they undergo resting-state scans and a special task called the Think and Regulate Affective States Task (TReAT). This task involves recalling personal positive and negative memories, rating emotions, and practicing strategies to amplify positive feelings. Physiological measures like heart rate and breathing are recorded during scanning. Throughout the study, participants fill out mood and emotion questionnaires, provide descriptions of autobiographical events, and rate their emotional experiences during and after MRI. Researchers analyze brain imaging and physiological data to decode emotional states and measure brain network stability. The main outcomes include tracking emotional state patterns and brain network changes during the tasks, helping to clarify how the brain supports emotion regulation in bipolar disorder.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Decoding Emotional Dynamics in Bipolar Disorder

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 65Years
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Age 18 to 65 years
  • Male or female
  • BMI between 18.5 and 38.0 kg/m2 at Screening
  • Capable of understanding and complying with study requirements
  • Fluent in English
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • For bipolar disorder group: Diagnosis of BD-I or BD-II currently depressed or mixed state by MINI
  • Moderate or greater depressive symptom severity (MADRS 65 15 or PHQ-9 65 10)
  • For healthy control group: No current or past psychiatric disorder verified by MINI
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • No telephone or easy access to a telephone
  • Significant unstable or serious medical problems (e.g., liver, kidney, heart, lung, neurologic, metabolic disorders)
  • Positive test for drugs of abuse including alcohol and various substances
  • Drug or alcohol intoxication or withdrawal; cannabis use must be more than 48 hours before study
  • Current diagnosis of psychosis spectrum disorder or moderate to severe substance use disorder
  • Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury or neurocognitive disorder with neurological deficits
  • Significant suicidal ideation or suicide attempt within last 3 months
  • Recent change (within 6 weeks) in medication affecting brain function
  • Taking drugs that affect fMRI response (e.g., methylphenidate, acetazolamide, high caffeine intake)
  • MRI contraindications
  • Unwillingness or inability to complete major study components
  • Non-correctable vision or hearing problems

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person) for consent, psychiatric screening, and questionnaires

Preparation Session

Duration - 1 day

Participants complete diagnostic interviews, questionnaires on mood and emotion, and recall personal autobiographical events to prepare for MRI tasks.

1 visit (in-person)

MRI Scanning Session

Duration - 1 day

Participants undergo MRI scans including resting-state and task-based fMRI while completing the Think and Regulate Affective States Task (TReAT), with concurrent physiological monitoring and emotional ratings.

1 visit (in-person) lasting up to 2 hours

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Laureate Institute for Brain Research

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, 74135

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

M

Masaya Misaki Study Primary Investigator, Ph.D.

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

NONE

Allocation

NA

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Number of Arms

1

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