Olfaction in adolescent psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of olfaction in adolescent psychosis
IRAS ID
244100
Contact name
Anthony James
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
1. Schizophrenia is a devastating illness which often starts in early adulthood or late adolescence, and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. As yet we do not understand the processes underlying this illness. Olfaction has been noted to affected in those with schizophrenia: deficits in olfaction are linked to poorer outcome and lower intellectual functioning. Olfaction is anatomically linked with primitive areas of the brain and connections to the limbic system – areas which are affected in schizophrenia; however, despite this, and consistent evidence of deficits in olfaction with psychosis, olfaction remains understudied in psychosis. This is curious as olfaction can be assessed relatively easily.
2. We will use MRI and MEG (Magnetoencephalography) to reveal the brain areas and connections involved in olfaction, in 15 adolescents with schizophrenia versus 15 healthy adolescent controls (age 12-19 years) at the Oxford Human Brain Activity Centre (OHBA).
3. Understanding any deficits in olfaction and how they are related to connections between brain areas in those where brain development is actively progressing as in adolescence offers a unique opportunity to extend our knowledge. Also studying adolescents where neurodevelopmental process are operative avoids problems associated with long-term medication etc.
4. It is hoped that by understanding the mechanisms that are altered in olfaction – a primitive brain function - we can link these to the processes that are fundamentally affected in this illness.
5. This study is scheduled to be completed within 18 months.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0632
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion