Depression and proton MRS at 7T
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding brain neurochemistry in depression using magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7T
IRAS ID
128597
Contact name
Philip Cowen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Medical Research Council
Research summary
Clinical depression is a common condition and current treatments are not always satisfactory, partly because the underlying biochemistry of the disorder is not well understood. The aim of the present study is to take advantage of a new high field magnetic resonance imaging system in Oxford to examine brain neurochemistry in depression with a precision and detail that has not been possible before. We will specifically test a hypothesis about a neurotransmitter called glutamate which has been implicated in depression. The study will consist of a single imaging session in patients meeting standard diagnostic criteria for major depression before treatment is started. We will recruit a healthy control group so that findings in the depressed patients can be compared to a normal range. Depression has also been linked to inflammation and stress, both of which can alter the brain neurochemicals we propose to measure. We will therefore also take a single blood test from which we can measure levels of inflammation in patients and controls. Finally we will measure the hormone cortisol in saliva to provide a measure of stress. The study will be carried out by the Oxford University Department of Psychiatry and is funded by the Medical Research Council
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/SC/0328
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion