7T MRS in first episode psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding brain neurochemistry in first episode psychosis using magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7 Tesla
IRAS ID
218657
Contact name
Beata R Godlewska
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The study aims at increasing our understanding of the biological background of early psychosis, a serious and a highly disruptive mental condition in which people experience psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations and disruptions in thinking processes, accompanied by changes in feelings and behaviour. The first episode of psychosis commonly happens in early adulthood or adolescence. It often relapses and gets later diagnosed as severe and chronic mental disorders with a great burden of illness, such as schizophrenia. An understanding of the biological processes underlying clinical symptoms at this early stage is of paramount importance as ultimately it will allow for knowledge-driven therapeutic and preventive interventions, including therapeutic ones, targeting underlying pathology before any progression of changes occurs.
Recently the hypotheses emphasising the role of the glutamatergic system have been gaining increasing attention. To improve the outcome for patients, and in particular to understand targets for new therapeutic approaches, a better knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology is needed. Developments in non-invasive brain imaging now make progress towards this aim possible.
In this study we want to use a state-of-art scanning technology with 7T scanner, which can give an unprecedented insight into the molecules of the glutamatergic system. We also want to assess cognitive functions, such as attention and memory, that are frequently impaired in first episode psychosis and that can be linked to the changes in the regions of the brain we propose to scan. Additionally, we want to measure some inflammatory markers that can have influence on the molecules from the glutamatergic system.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0065
Date of REC Opinion
9 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion