Neuroimaging a single dose of modafinil on brain activity in psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Neuroimaging effects of a single dose of modafinil on brain activation in patients with schizophrenia
IRAS ID
135861
Contact name
Shon Lewis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Research summary
Cognitive problems, i.e. problems with memory, attention and planning, are almost universal in patients with schizophrenia and account for 20-60% of the difference in functional outcome. Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) is well established by the time of the first episode but treatment with antipsychotic medications is not effective for CIAS. Some cognitive-enhancing drugs have shown promising results for CIAS where they generally tend to improve individual cognitive domains without a clear effect on overall cognition. The basis of cognitive problems in schizophrenia remains unclear, but current theories link it to abnormal brain development and disconnections between brain areas.
It has been suggested that younger patients with shorter duration of illness may be optimal candidates for drug intervention. Current evidence suggests starting treatment early in the course of schizophrenia is associated with a greater therapeutic response in clinical, cognitive and functional measures, and longer duration of illness may be associated with more severe brain changes. Therefore, patients with recent onset schizophrenia may have greater potential neuroplasticity and be more likely to be affected by cognitive-enhancing drugs.
To understand how cognition-enhancing drugs modify abnormalities in brain networks’ functioning we will investigate the effects of modafinil on both behavioural tests and cognition-related brain networks in volunteers with schizophrenia. Modafinil is the only drug with cognitive-enhancing properties that has been tested in both chronic and recent onset patients in single-dose studies and has shown beneficial effects, but how modafinil affects cognition is still unclear. Evidence from functional neuroimaging studies in healthy individuals suggests modafinil improves brain effectiveness during cognitive information processing.
Thirty-three patients will perform two neurocognitive test batteries at baseline. They will receive modafinil on one occasion and placebo on another, and undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan whilst performing cognitive tests to investigate how modafinil affects brain activity.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0626
Date of REC Opinion
23 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion