Reward Processing in Mental Illness

July 12, 2019 updated by: Susanna Fryer

Multimodal Neural Investigation of Reward Processing in Mental Illness

The purpose of this study is to examine the nature of reward processing dysfunctions in schizophrenia using neuroimaging techniques that capture in vivo brain functioning, such as EEG and fMRI.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This experiment takes place over the course of two or three days. On each visit day, the experiment will involve a brief interview session, electroencephalography (EEG) recording,and/or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Screening tests or procedures include:

  • If you are female of child bearing potential, you must complete a urine pregnancy test for the MRI procedure
  • You will be asked a series of questions about your mental health and your background

If the screening exam shows that you can be in the main part of the study and you choose to continue, these are the tests and procedures that you would complete on one or two test days:

  • EEG recording: In this procedure, the researcher will assess your brain function while you perform simple computer-based tasks. The computer tasks involve presentation of pictures to which you respond by pressing a button. You will be given clear instructions and a chance to practice before each task. While you are performing these tasks, we will record the weak electrical signals produced by your brain, or "brain waves", using a technique called electroencephalography (EEG).

    • In order to record your EEG, sensors (small plastic discs) will be attached to specific locations on your scalp. Your scalp will be gently scrubbed before the sensors are attached. The sensors are held in place on your scalp using a nylon cap that fits snugly on your head. Sensors will also be attached above and below your eyes and will record your eye movements. It will take approximately one hour to attach the sensors. The entire EEG will take approximately 2 hours.
    • Before you take part in the EEG session, please make sure to wash your hair and scalp. Do not use conditioner or a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner. Your hair should be dry before your arrival. We ask this in order to make the set-up process go more smoothly.

  • MRI: In the fMRI procedure, we will use a magnet to measure blood flow to your brain while you do different cognitive tasks. You will be asked to lie down on a platform that can be slid into the middle of the magnet. A plastic MRI imaging coil will be placed around your head. You will not come into contact with the coil during the experiment. Foam pads will be placed around your head to limit head movement during the experiment. We will then slide you into the magnet. At different points during the experiment, you will be asked to do the same tasks you did in the training session prior to the scan. During the scan, you will be asked to either lie still and rest, or do some tasks similar to those you completed during your EEG. The entire MRI will take approximately two hours.

    • If the researchers feel as though the quality of data collected by the scanner can be improved, you may be asked to return for an additional scan session.
  • Brief interview session: There will be a series of questions about your education, smoking status, and economic background. You will also be given a list of words to read to the researcher. If you are a patient diagnosed with one of the above-mentioned psychiatric disorders, you will be asked to participate in an additional interview, lasting about one hour, focusing on how you have been feeling recently.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

80

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94121
        • San Francisco VA Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 30 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder within the past 5 years and meet our research criteria of symptoms indicative of a diagnosis of schizophrenia within their lifetime are eligible for this study.

Patients who have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Gambling Disorder within the past 5 years and meet our research criteria of symptoms indicative of a diagnosis of one of these disorders within their lifetime are also eligible for this study.

Healthy controls who have never met criteria for a psychiatric disorder and meet our research criteria will also be included in this study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The subject population will include 18 to 30 year old participants of any gender, race, and ethnicity. All subjects will be able to speak and understand English.

Schizophrenia subjects:

1. Patients must be diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorder based on a SCID-P interview.

Depression subjects:

1. Patients must be diagnosed with DSM-V Major Depressive Disorder based on a SCID-P interview.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder subjects:

1. Patients must be diagnosed with DSM-V Post Traumatic Stress Disorder based on a SCID-P interview.

Gambling Disorder subjects:

1. Patients must be diagnosed with DSM-V Gambling Disorder based on a SCID-P interview.

Comparison subjects:

1. Control participants must not have past or present Axis I diagnosis as determined by the SCID-NP.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • All subjects:

    1. A hearing deficit greater than 40dB in both ears detected during the hearing test
    2. Substance dependence, as per clinical judgment, in the past 1 year (except caffeine and nicotine)
    3. A history of significant medical/neurological disease such as cardiac, thyroid, renal, hepatic or neurological
    4. History of head injury with loss of consciousness greater than 15 minutes
    5. Any other condition or medication, which in the opinion of the investigator would preclude participation in the study.
    6. Non-English speaking.

Comparison subjects:

1. Any first-degree relative with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Patients with Recent Onset Schizophrenia
Individuals who have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, or Schizophreniform Disorder within the past five years and meet our research criteria for symptoms indicative of these diseases within the past five years.
Diagnostic test: Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
We will use these techniques combined with tests of reward anticipation and clinical interviews to explore connections between these measures and activity in the brain in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, gambling disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder and healthy controls.
Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Individuals who have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder within the past five years and meet our research criteria for symptoms indicative of this disease within the past five years.
Diagnostic test: Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
We will use these techniques combined with tests of reward anticipation and clinical interviews to explore connections between these measures and activity in the brain in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, gambling disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder and healthy controls.
Patients with Gambling Disorder
Individuals who have been diagnosed with Gambling Disorder within the past five years and meet our research criteria for symptoms indicative of this disease within the past five years.
Diagnostic test: Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
We will use these techniques combined with tests of reward anticipation and clinical interviews to explore connections between these measures and activity in the brain in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, gambling disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder and healthy controls.
Patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Individuals who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder within the past five years and meet our research criteria for symptoms indicative of this disease within the past five years.
Diagnostic test: Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
We will use these techniques combined with tests of reward anticipation and clinical interviews to explore connections between these measures and activity in the brain in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, gambling disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder and healthy controls.
Healthy Controls
Individuals who have not met criteria for a psychiatric, mood, or gambling disorder within their lifetime according to our research criteria for symptoms indicative of a psychiatric, mood, or gambling disorder.
Diagnostic test: Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
We will use these techniques combined with tests of reward anticipation and clinical interviews to explore connections between these measures and activity in the brain in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, gambling disorder, or post traumatic stress disorder and healthy controls.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
EEG
Time Frame: At time of visit
Electroencephalography, measures signals from the brain while participants conduct specific tasks that measure memory and attention.
At time of visit
MRI
Time Frame: At time of visit
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, measures activity in, and takes detailed pictures of the brain while participants conduct specific tasks that measure memory and attention.
At time of visit
Reward Processing Tasks
Time Frame: At time of visit
A slot machine task where participants can win real money while participating in an EEG and MRI
At time of visit

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Susanna Fryer

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Susanna Fryer, PhD, San Francisco VA Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 27, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 27, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

March 3, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 15, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 12, 2019

Last Verified

July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IK2CX001028 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Early-onset Schizophrenia

Clinical Trials on Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Switzerland

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe