EAGLES
Overview
The aim of this research is to better understand the changes in the brain that occur in schizophrenia. The study will use brain scans to measure several related aspects of brain function (such as glucose use, blood flow and activity) in people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to people with no mental health difficulties (‘healthy volunteers’).
The study involves three visits. These are an interview visit, a Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT/MR) scan visit and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan visit. We will also take blood samples to help us to interpret the scans. The scan visits will take place at St Thomas’ hospital.
Are you interested in taking part in this study?
Planned end date
30 Sep 2027 23:59Conditions
SchizophreniaInclusion Criteria
All participants:
• Age 18-65
• Able to provide written informed consent.
• Sufficient communication level to understand study-related procedures.
Healthy volunteers
• No history of psychiatric illness.
Treatment responsive schizophrenia:
• Meeting ICD-11 criteria for schizophrenia (F20)
• Meeting symptomatic consensus criteria for remission, defined as scores of mild or less on items P1, P2, P3, N1, N4, N6, G5 and G9 of the PANSS and no history of symptomatic relapse in the past 6 months.
• Currently receiving one or more of the following antipsychotic medications: Olanzapine; Risperidone; Quetiapine; Amisulpride; Aripiprazole; Paliperidone.
• Antipsychotic adherent, defined as having a score of >=moderate adherence (4 and above) on the Kemp scale.
Treatment resistant schizophrenia:
• Meeting ICD-11 criteria for schizophrenia (F20)
• Meeting modified consensus criteria for treatment resistance, including history of at least two antipsychotic treatment trials each lasting ≥6 weeks at a dose of ≥400mg chlorpromazine equivalents.
• Total PANSS total score > 70
• Moderate functional impairment (<60 on the SOFAS)
• Currently receiving one or more of the following antipsychotic medications: Clozapine; Olanzapine; Risperidone; Quetiapine; Amisulpride; Aripiprazole; Paliperidone.
• Antipsychotic adherent, defined as having a score of >=moderate adherence (4 and above) on the Kemp scale.
Exclusion Criteria
All participants:
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding. In women of child-bearing potential, a negative urine pregnancy test will be required before both the PET and MRI scans.
• Lacking in mental capacity to provide informed consent to study participation.
• Diabetes or history of taking an antidiabetic medication.
• Presence of contraindication to MRI at 7 Tesla, including metallic or electronic implants and dental wires.
• Severe claustrophobia prohibiting participation on PET or MRI
• Body size above the comfortable limits for the MRI scanner. This will depend on individual body characteristics, but as a guide the scanner bore is 60cm wide, which translates to upper weight limit of ~125-130kg.
• Previous participation in research or clinical procedure/s involving ionising radiation, which, including the current study, would result in total radiation exposure >=10mSv within 12 months (as ARSAC guidelines suggest 10mSv/year as the normal upper limit for radiation exposure related to research procedures).
• History of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for > 5 minutes (ever)
• Meeting ICD-11 criteria for organic mental disorders (F00-F09)
• Meeting ICD-11 criteria for mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19)
• With the exclusion of nicotine or cannabis, meeting ICD-11 criteria for psychoactive substance dependence.
• Participation in clinical trial investigating any pharmacological agent other than a licenced antipsychotic compound in the last month.
• Donation of blood or blood products in excess of 500ml within 60 days prior to the present study.
• Any other medical condition that may present risk to research participation (e.g. bleeding/clotting disorders), staff (e.g. blood borne viruses) or impact on the study outcome measures (e.g. neurological disorder), as judged by the research or clinical team.