Keto-Brain: Cerebral Energy Substrate Metabolism in First-Episode Schizophrenia

Objective The objective is to recruit antipsychotic-naïve patients at the first diagnosis with a first-episode schizophrenia disorder (FES) to study ketone metabolism of the brain via PET neuroimaging. Participants will undergo PET neuroimaging at baseline before start of antipsychotic treatment and after 4-8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment including an additional clinical follow-up visit after 6 months. In addition, a healthy control group with one baseline visit will be recruited.

Study design Non-interventional neuroimaging study with pre-defined follow-up visits.

Patients Patients with a FES (ICD-10: F20) aged 18-35 years who are antipsychotic-naïve including age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Sample size This is an observational pilot project. Currently, no studies have measured brain ketone metabolism before and after AP intake. Assuming a 50% dropout rate at follow-up, the investigators aim to recruit 22 patients to obtain 12 full datasets - a sample size commonly used in PET studies. Healthy controls will only have one study day, so no dropouts are expected - aiming at a sample size of 12 healthy controls.

Procedures Patients will be included at the first FES diagnosis. Before inclusion, an interview with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) interview will validate the diagnosis. At baseline and follow-up (details in the full protocol and Table 1), patients will be rated by use of the 6-item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6), the Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). The Matrics Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), which consists of 10 cognitive tests, will measure cognition. Heart rate, blood pressure, height, body weight, waist and hip circumference will be recorded. Patients will be treated according to clinical indication, i.e., they will receive routine clinical care at the local psychiatric hospital and participation in this study will not affect the treatment.

Follow-up Patients will be treated and followed according to normal clinical treatment guidelines at the local psychiatric hospitals, which will not be affected by participation. A re-scan will be performed after 4-8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment.

Endpoints The primary endpoints are

1. Brain ketone and glucose metabolism in FES before antipsychotic treatment compared to healthy controls measured via PET
2. Brain ketone and glucose metabolism in FES after antipsychotic treatment

Risks and Safety Patients will follow treatment-as-usual at their local psychiatric hospital, with the clinicians from the local hospital being responsible for safety monitoring according to local treatment guidelines. Participation in the present study will not delay clinically indicated antipsychotic treatment. Blood sample results will be obtained from the patient's medical record (MidtEPJ) at the study visits to monitor biochemical safety parameters for medical treatment. Between follow-up visits for this study, patients will follow guideline-based safety monitoring at the local psychiatric hospital.

During the PET neuroimaging, participants will have two catheters, one arterial and one venous. Vascular puncture can result in a light degree of pain. The risk of infection is negligible.

PET: Injection of the radiotracer may cause slight pain and redness, which should rapidly resolve. The radiotracers [15O]H2O and [11C]OHB are radiolabeled versions of their naturally occurring versions, thus sharing their chemical properties. They are given in non-pharmacological doses. [18F]FDG is an analogue of glucose, given in non-pharmacological dose (<1 nanogram). Allergic reactions have been described, but are extremely rare - it has been used routinely in the workup of cancer patients through decades. Ultimately, no pharmacologic or immunologic side effects are to be expected from the radiotracers.

The amount of radiation to healthy controls will be 4.6 mSv. Since patients have two study days, the total radiation dose to patients will be 9.2 mSv. The mean background radiation in Denmark is approximately 3 mSv per year. Thus, healthy subjects and patients will get approximately 1½ and 3 times the yearly background radiation during the study. In Denmark, the lifetime risk of lethal cancer is approximately 25%. The radioactive dose of 9.2 mSv administered to patients in this study, may increase the risk by 0.05% (from 25% to 25.05%). The radioactive dose of 4.6 mSv administered to healthy controls in this study, may increase the risk by 0.02% (from 25% to 25.02%).

Study duration 2025-2027.