Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques for Studying Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Eligible age
18–65 yrs
Accepts
All genders
Locations
1 state
Healthy volunteers
Yes
See if you qualify for this study
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About this study
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.
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
You may not qualify if…
- ✕ Healthy Control
- ✕ Subjects with major medical or neurological disorders expected to influence cerebral blood flow or morphology, or taking any medication that is likely to influence the imaging parameters-of-interest within 3 weeks of scanning.
- ✕ Women who are pregnant are excluded from the study. Subjects will undergo pregnancy testing no more than 24 hours prior to MRI scanning.
- ✕ Subjects with contraindication to MRI scanning such as aneurysm clips, implanted neural stimulator, implanted cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillator, cochlear implant, or ocular foreign body.
- ✕ A history of drug or alcohol abuse within 1 year or a lifetime history of drug or alcohol dependence (DSM-IV) or alcohol use disorder (DSM-V equivalent).
- ✕ Major Depressive Disorder
- ✕ Presence of Axis 1 psychiatric diagnosis other than Major Depression or an Axis 2 disorder
- ✕ Subjects with major medical or neurological disorders expected to influence cognitive function or are taking any drugs likely to affect mood or cognitive function within 1 week of study participation. Depressed subjects will not be tapered/withdrawn from medications under this study.
Where it's recruiting
Bethesda
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00397111 · last updated 2026-07-16