[11C]CFN PET and fMRI in interictal depression

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Mechanisms of interictal depression: a pilot combined [11C]carfentanil-Positron Emission Tomography and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging study in patients with epilepsy and interictal depression.

• IRAS ID

  182175

• Contact name

  Jacqueline Foong

• Contact email

  jacqueline.foong@uclh.nhs.uk; m.galovic@ucl.ac.uk SEND TO BOTH

• Sponsor organisation

  University College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 5 months, 28 days

• Research summary

  'Epilepsy' is a common illness of the brain. The main symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures. Besides seizures, people with epilepsy commonly develop depression, however, it is unknown how or why this happens. Depression leads to a markedly reduced quality of life.

  The main aim of this study is to investigate how depression is developed in patients with epilepsy. Specifically, we will test whether depression in epilepsy is associated with disturbances of the ‘opioid’ chemical system in the brain. The opioid chemical system is involved in processing of mood and reward. It will be measured using a brain imaging technique, the Positron Emission Tomography (PET). We expect to find abnormalities of the opioid chemical system in brains of patients with epilepsy at baseline and after eliciting positive mood. Additionally, a second brain imaging technique, the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), will be used to measure disturbances in how brains process reward.

  We will compare 20 epilepsy patients with and without depression. All subjects will be assessed with mood rating scales. They will have two PET scans (one at baseline and one after eliciting positive mood) and fMRI to measure reward processing.

  This work will provide further insights into how and why epilepsy patients get depressed and may contribute to improving or developing further treatments.

• REC name

  London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/LO/1767

• Date of REC Opinion

  16 Nov 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion