Actively Recruiting
Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques for Studying Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Led by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · Updated on 2026-05-01
390
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This study is intended to help develop new MRI imaging techniques for studying mood and anxiety disorders. Researchers believe that depression and anxiety disorders may cause structural and functional changes in the brain. This study will optimize the way MRI scans are collected to look at brain structure and examine how the brain behaves while subjects perform particular tasks. Healthy volunteers and individuals with major depressive disorder may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological testing. : Individuals will be asked to participate in an MRI study on one of several scanners. The scanner used will measure blood flow in the brain, concentrations of certain chemicals in the brain, or magnetic properties of the brain. The scan may involve They watching a screen presenting images or doing a task in which they respond to pictures or sounds. Participants may be asked to return for additional scans. The study also involves neuropsychological tests, which assess cognitive performance. Often, people with mood disorders have subtle changes in performance on these tests that allow researchers to pinpoint where brain abnormalities occur. Before the tests can be used in patients, they must be validated by using healthy subjects. These tests are presented either orally, in written form, or on a computer.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques for Studying Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Male and female subjects between 18 and 65 years of age
- Ability to give written informed consent before participating
- Healthy controls must have no current or past major psychiatric disorder and no first-degree relatives with mood disorders
- For cognitive tests using language, only native English speakers will be enrolled
- Subjects with major depressive disorder must meet DSM-IV or V criteria confirmed by clinical assessment and structured interview
- Subjects with major depressive disorder must be eligible for other related research protocols
You will not qualify if you...
- Healthy controls with major medical or neurological disorders affecting brain blood flow or structure, or taking medications that affect imaging within 3 weeks before scanning
- Pregnant women (confirmed by pregnancy test within 24 hours before MRI)
- Individuals with MRI contraindications such as aneurysm clips, implanted neural stimulators, pacemakers, cochlear implants, or ocular foreign bodies
- History of drug or alcohol abuse within 1 year or lifetime dependence
- Subjects with major depressive disorder having other Axis 1 psychiatric or Axis 2 disorders
- Subjects with major medical or neurological disorders affecting cognition or taking mood/cognition affecting drugs within 1 week before participation
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women excluded from MRI parts of the study
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Allison C Nugent, Ph.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
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