The Effects of Single-dose Losartan on the Processing of Emotional Information in Healthy Adolescents: a Randomised Controlled Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how a single dose of losartan, a blood pressure medication, affects emotional processing in healthy young people aged 16 to 20 years. Adolescents often have difficulty with fear extinction, a process related to overcoming anxiety, and this study aims to understand if losartan can improve this by enhancing brain function in areas involved in emotion regulation. The trial is randomized and double-blind, meaning neither participants nor researchers know who receives losartan or placebo during the study. Participants will receive one dose of losartan adjusted by weight (50mg if over 50kg, 25mg if below) or a placebo capsule. One hour after taking the capsule, when the drug reaches peak levels in the body, they will complete various computerized tests. These tests include a fear extinction task and others that assess attention and learning from emotional and neutral stimuli. The study evaluates the drug's impact on emotional and cognitive functions relevant to anxiety. During the study, participants will undergo assessments one hour after capsule intake, including measures of fear extinction, pattern separation, cognitive flexibility, reinforcement learning, and attention to faces. The trial is conducted with healthy volunteers and will monitor safety and effects throughout. The total participation involves attending appointments in Oxford, completing tasks, and providing consent and contact details for follow-up. The study's results may help improve understanding of anxiety treatments for adolescents.

Losartan and Emotional Processing in Young People