| NCT ID | NCT06412315 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Oxford |
| Condition | Emotional Processing |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 50 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-02-13 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-10-31 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 50 participants in total. It began in 2025-02-13 with a primary completion date of 2026-10-31.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to investigate how a common antidepressant citalopram (which increases the levels of the chemical messenger serotonin), affects how a key area of the brain involved in depression (the amygdala) responds to emotional information. Healthy participants will undergo medical and psychiatric health screening, after which they will be assigned to receive either a single dose of citalopram (20mg) or placebo, and undergo brain scanning (7T fMRI) whilst viewing emotional faces. Since the scan uses high field strength, the investigators will be able to see effects of citalopram on different subfields within the amygdala which will help to understand how citalopram might be working.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the research * Sufficiently fluent English to understand and complete the task Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with ferromagnetic objects in their bodies (e.g. metal implants, vessel clips, shrapnel injuries) or with implanted devices which may be damaged by the magnet (e.g. heart pacemakers) * Any other MRI contraindication following MRI safety screening * History or current significant psychiatric illness (like major depressive disorder) * Current or past diagnosis of any significant personality disorder (e.g. borderline personality disorder) according to self-report * Diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactive disorder or autistic spectrum disorder that impairs daily functioning, requires pharmacotherapy or in the opinion of the study medic would affect the scientific integrity of the study * Currently or within last 3 months taking psychoactive medications (requires further discussion with researcher) * Current or within the last 3 months use of medication that might interact with the effects of citalopram or affect the scientific integrity of the study * Known contraindication to citalopram including: past allergic reaction to citalopram or any other medicines, diagnosis of a cardiovascular condition, glaucoma, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, diagnosis of epilepsy, previous diagnosis of angle-closure glaucoma, or current use of any other medication whose use interacts with citalopram (according to British National Formulary (BNF) guidance) e.g. associated with prolonged QT-interval * Any other current or past medical conditions which in the opinion of the study medic may interfere with the safety of the participant or the scientific integrity of the study including epilepsy/seizures, brain injury, hepatic or renal disease, diabetes, severe gastro-intestinal problems, Central Nervous System (CNS) tumours, neurological conditions * Clinically significant abnormal values for urine drug screen, pulse, and blood pressure measurement (in accordance with Best Practice Guidance 13: 'Non-invasive measurement of blood pressure'). A participant with a clinical abnormality or parameters outside the reference range for the population being studied may be included only if the Investigator considers that the finding is unlikely to introduce additional risk factors and will not interfere with the study procedures * Current alcohol or substance misuse disorder * Body Mass Index under 18 and over 30 * Pregnant or planning a pregnancy, or breast feeding * Previously taken part in a study that used similar computer tasks (MRI faces task, emotional test battery) as those in the present study * Participation in a study that involves the use of a psychoactive medication or brain stimulation within the last three months * Use of recreational drugs (e.g. cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines) within last three months * Smoking \> 5 cigarettes per day, or vape a comparable amount (\> 0.5ml / a quarter of a 2ml vape); * Typically drinks \> 6 caffeinated drinks per day (e.g. tea, coffee, coca cola, Red Bull) * Participant is unlikely to comply with the clinical study protocol or is unsuitable for any other reason, in the opinion of the Investigator
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06412315 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 40 Years, studying Emotional Processing. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06412315 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06412315 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at marieke.martens@psych.ox.ac.uk for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06412315 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Oxford, United Kingdom.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06412315 clinical trial?
NCT06412315 is sponsored by University of Oxford. The trial plans to enroll 50 participants.