Actively Recruiting
Early Psychosis: Investigating Cognition
Led by University of Nottingham ยท Updated on 2026-05-04
106
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
76 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Nottingham
Lead Sponsor
W
Wellcome Trust
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The project aims to explore changes in brain chemistry in individuals who have recently experienced psychosis. Recent research suggests that chemicals in the brain, specifically one called glutamate, may behave differently in people who have experienced psychosis compared to those who have not. It is also known that some individuals with psychosis can find tasks involving memory and attention more challenging. This study aims at understanding how brain chemistry is linked to memory and attention, and if this is different between people who have and have not experienced psychosis. The study will also investigate how a commonly used brain stimulation technique might help people with psychosis and other conditions by altering brain chemistry for a very short period. Non-invasive brain stimulation using very weak electrical stimulation has been used to help improve symptoms in individuals with psychosis and many other conditions, and has been shown to alter brain chemistry for a few hours after stimulation. However, it does not work for everyone. It will be investigated if levels of glutamate can predict whether brain stimulation will help an individual or not. In other words, the study investigates if glutamate can be used as a marker for tailoring treatments. This project also aims to collect personal experiences or challenges that individuals with psychosis face. This information will be gathered through interviews. This will help to understand what specific difficulties individuals have, such as with certain aspects of memory and attention. The interview will also gather opinions and concerns about brain imaging and brain stimulation and current understandings of chemicals in the brain. For example, the study will explore why individuals may not want to take part in brain imaging or brain stimulation.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Early Psychosis: Investigating Cognition
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Aged 18 to 55 years
- Ability to understand and willing to give written informed consent
- Fluent in English to understand all cognitive task instructions and questionnaires
- For psychosis group: Current psychotic disorder diagnosed under DSM-5 with less than 5 years duration (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder with psychosis, or severe depression with psychosis)
- At least 8 weeks of stable treatment
- Ability to travel to the University of Nottingham for in-person testing
- For healthy controls: No psychosis history, aged 18 to 55 years, fluent English, able to travel to testing
- For participants with lived psychosis experience (Study 2): Aged 18+, fluent English, history of psychotic disorder with no time limit since first episode, stable treatment for 8 weeks, able to travel to testing
You will not qualify if you...
- Clinically significant neurological or comorbid psychiatric disorder
- History of clinically significant head injury
- Current harmful use of or dependence on psychoactive substances (excluding nicotine for psychosis groups, excluding nicotine and caffeine for controls)
- Current use of medications that might affect neurochemicals of interest
- Contraindications for MRI scanning such as claustrophobia, pregnancy, or metal implants
- Contraindications for transcranial direct current stimulation such as pacemaker, seizures, epilepsy, or open head wounds
- Participation in a clinical trial involving drugs or invasive procedures within the last month
- For Study 2: Psychosis symptoms not directly experienced by the individual (e.g., carer role only) or similar exclusion conditions
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Nottingham
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom, NG7 2RD
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Claudia Danielmeier, PhD
CONTACT
M
Mohammad Z U H Katshu, PhD
CONTACT
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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