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Clinical Trials/NCT06872463
NCT06872463
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Brain Immunoactivation in Drug-Naive Patients with First Episode Schizophrenia

Karolinska Institutet1 site in 1 country200 target enrollmentStarted: January 25, 2011Last updated:

Overview

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Recruiting
Enrollment
200
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Kynurenic acid (KYNA) in FEP compared to HC

Overview

Brief Summary

KaSP is a multimodal observational study with the goal of clarifying underlying mechanisms that cause psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. Participants with psychotic symptoms are recruited early after first contact with health care, within 4 weeks of starting anti-psychotic medication, and are compared to controls without psychiatric diagnoses on several measures.

Detailed Description

KaSP aims to recruit 120 patients sparsely medicated or drug-naive first episode psychosis (FEP) individuals, along with 80 healthy controls.

Participants undergo the following assessments and measurements:

  • Clinical assessment
  • Cognitive testing
  • Lab results from cerebrospinal fluid, blood, urine, saliva and skin biopsy
  • Brain imaging using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
  • Pre-Pulse Inhibition (PPI) (a test to evaluate the startle response)
  • Measures of arterial stiffness and amount of vascular narrowing

Participants with psychosis are invited back for repeat measurements at 1,5 and 5 years after study enrollment. Controls may be invited back at 1,5 years for repeat of some of the assessments.

Study Design

Study Type
Observational
Observational Model
Cohort
Time Perspective
Prospective

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis as assessed using DSM-IV of one of the following: schizophrenia, schizophreniform psychosis, psychosis not otherwise specified (NOS), brief psychosis, schizoaffective syndrome, delusional disorder
  • First exposure to anti-psychotic medication less than 4 weeks prior to inclusion

Exclusion Criteria

  • Other dominant psychiatric illness deemed to be related to current psychotic symptoms
  • A history of diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder, including substance use disorders.
  • Family history of psychotic disorders in first degree relatives.
  • Evidence based on medical history, clinical signs, MRI or laboratory tests of clinically significant somatic disorder, or previous disorder with brain engagement (e.g. tumour, neuroinflammatory disease, epilepsy) or significant brain trauma.
  • Exposure to an effective radiation dose of 25 mSv during the past year.
  • Pregnancy, lactating or breastfeeding (women).
  • Meets diagnostic criteria of substance use disorder (excluding nicotine dependence) as assessed using DSM-IV or as determined using repeated positive urine screens during the course of the study.
  • Metallic object in the eye, or ferro/electromagnetic implants. History of claustrophobic anxiety during MRI.
  • Symptoms of severe bacterial, fungal, or viral infection (including upper respiratory tract infection), with systemic effects as detected by e.g. fever, within 7 days prior to inclusion.
  • Treatment with any antihemostatic medication within 2 weeks of lumbar puncture and arterial line placement of either the baseline or 1 year follow-up.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) in FEP compared to HC

Time Frame: Baseline measure

KYNA are measured in CSF and blood samples

Cytokines in FEP compared to HC

Time Frame: Baseline measure

Cytokines are measured in CSF and blood samples

Microglial activation in FEP compared to HC

Time Frame: Baseline measure

Group comparison of binding of the PET ligand \[11C\]PBR-28

Dopamine receptors in FEP compared to HC

Time Frame: Baseline measure

Group comparison of binding of the PET-ligand \[11C\]FLB457

Infectious risk factors in FEP and subsequent relation to clinical outcome

Time Frame: Registry data in childhood, measurement at baseline, registry data through study completion (with an expected average of 7 years of follow up)

Registry data on previous infections, along with infectious agents measured in CSF and blood. Long term clinical outcome is measured through registry data, by drug-dispensation as well as in-and outpatient care for both somatic and psychiatric disorders.

Secondary Outcomes

No secondary outcomes reported

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Carl Sellgren

Associate Professor Carl Sellgren Majkowitz

Karolinska Institutet

Study Sites (1)

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