Brain Network Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairments in Major Psychiatric Disorders and Their Clinical Applications

March 2, 2026 updated by: Guo Wenbin, Central South University

Study on the Brain Network Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairments in Major Psychiatric Disorders and Their Application in Cognitive Assessment, Diagnosis, and Precision Treatment

Previous and our studies have shown that cognitive impairments are core symptoms of three major psychiatric disorders-schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, and are associated with underlying brain dysfunction. However, the specific brain networks involved in cognitive impairments (cognitive impairment brain networks) in these disorders, as well as whether their neuroimaging features can be applied to cognitive assessment, diagnosis, and precision treatment, remain unclear. This study aims to identify cognitive impairment brain networks using publicly available large-scale datasets and clinical research, and to explore whether the neuroimaging features of these networks can be utilized for cognitive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment response prediction. First, a "sensitive cognitive assessment model for major psychiatric disorders" will be established through meta-analysis based on sensitive scales. Second, cognitive impairment brain networks will be identified using publicly available large-scale datasets combined with the lesion network mapping method, and their validity will be examined by assessing their non-randomness, reproducibility, symptom specificity, and disease specificity. Third, cognitive assessment and diagnostic models will be developed based on neuroimaging features of these networks. Finally, a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs will be used in a clinical trial to validate the identified networks and models, and a treatment response prediction model will be established based on the neuroimaging features of cognitive impairment brain networks. This study will advance the understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in major psychiatric disorders, promote the application of neuroimaging in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, and improve traditional diagnostic, therapeutic, and cognitive assessment approaches.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

400

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • China
    • Hunan
      • Changsha, Hunan, China, 410011

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 1, For Patients (SZ, BD, MDD):

Diagnosis of schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD), or major depressive disorder (MDD) according to standard diagnostic criteria

First-episode drug-naïve patients or patients who have relapsed after discontinuing medication for more than one month

Aged 18-60 years

Completion of at least 6 years of formal education

2, For Healthy Controls:

Aged 18-60 years

Completion of at least 6 years of formal education

No current or past psychiatric disorders

No first-degree relatives with psychiatric disorders

No history of treatment with psychotropic medications or physical therapy for psychiatric disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior use of psychotropic medications or receipt of physical treatment for psychiatric disorders (for patient group)

Contraindications to MRI scanning

History of brain injury

History of substance abuse

Presence of other neurological disorders

Presence of severe medical or systemic physical illnesses.

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Patients with schizophrenia

One hundred patients with schizophrenia (SZ) who are either drug-naïve at first episode or have relapsed after discontinuing medication for more than one month will be enrolled.

Before treatment, all participants will undergo demographic and clinical assessments, along with structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

After the baseline MRI scan, patients will receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Upon completion of the treatment course, clinical assessments and MRI scans will be repeated.
Device: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Patients will receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).
Experimental: Patients with bipolar disorder

One hundred patients with bipolar disorder who are either drug-naïve at first episode or have relapsed after discontinuing medication for more than one month will be enrolled.

Before treatment, all participants will undergo demographic and clinical assessments, along with structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

After the baseline MRI scan, patients will receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Upon completion of the treatment course, clinical assessments and MRI scans will be repeated.
Device: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Patients will receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).
Experimental: Patients with major depressive disorder

One hundred patients with major depressive disorder who are either drug-naïve at first episode or have relapsed after discontinuing medication for more than one month will be enrolled.

Before treatment, all participants will undergo demographic and clinical assessments, along with structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

After the baseline MRI scan, patients will receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Upon completion of the treatment course, clinical assessments and MRI scans will be repeated.
Device: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Patients will receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).
No Intervention: healthy controls
One hundred healthy controls will be enrolled. Before the baseline assessment, all participants will undergo demographic and clinical evaluations, along with structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Healthy controls will undergo clinical assessments and MRI scans at corresponding time points without receiving rTMS treatment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cognitive changes
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Cognitive Changes Assessed with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) after Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Intervention
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Central South University

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Wenbin Guo, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China.

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 (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 26, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 2, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 20270101GWB

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.

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