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Recruiting NCT04159662

NCT04159662 Brain Imaging of Cognition Inn Schizophrenia and Depression

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT04159662
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Condition Schizophrenia / Schizoaffective Disorder
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment 90 participants
Start Date 2019-12-12
Primary Completion 2026-10-01

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 60 Years
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.

This trial targets 90 participants in total. It began in 2019-12-12 with a primary completion date of 2026-10-01.

⚠ 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

Schizophrenia and depression are among the most disabling disorders in all of medicine. Cognitive deficits play a key role in patients' disability, affecting their capacity to contribute actively to society by sustaining employment or academic activity. Moreover, cognitive difficulties tend to persist even after the stabilization of other clinical symptoms. Verbal memory and emotion regulation are two important cognitive domains that are impaired in schizophrenia and depression and are associated with patients' functional outcomes. In this study, brain imaging is used to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying these cognitive deficits in these populations.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * age 18-60 years * current Intelligence Quotient (IQ) \> 70 as measured by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) * the ability to read and speak fluent English * a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective or major depression disorder * stable medication for more than one month Exclusion Criteria: * significant neurological or other medical disorders that may produce cognitive impairment * a recent history of substance abuse or dependence (within the past 3 months) * any magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contraindications (e.g. metallic head implant, history of seizure, pacemaker) * decisional incapacity requiring a guardian * taking medications that are rated as Anticholinergic Burden (ACB) Score 3 (severe) or taking benzodiazepines on a daily basis * Finally, participants could not be severely symptomatic at the time of study enrolment to ensure that they could understand and complete all study assessments. This criterion was defined as a score ≤34 on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS; Montgomery \& Åsberg, 1979) for the MDD group and a score ≤95 on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS; Kay et al., 1987) for the SZ group.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Synthia Guimond, PhD

✉ Synthia.Guimond@theroyal.ca

📞 6137226521

Principal Investigator

Synthia Guimond, PhD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT04159662 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 60 Years, studying Schizophrenia / Schizoaffective Disorder. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT04159662 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT04159662 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at Synthia.Guimond@theroyal.ca for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT04159662 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Ottawa, Canada.

Who is sponsoring the NCT04159662 clinical trial?

NCT04159662 is sponsored by The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. The principal investigator is Synthia Guimond, PhD at Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. The trial plans to enroll 90 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: September 2026  ·  Data Methodology