Brain scans reveal hidden differences in schizophrenia

NCT ID NCT00004571

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026 · Updated 10 times

Summary

This study used advanced brain imaging (MRI and MEG) to look for differences in brain structure, chemistry, and activity between people with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers. Over 3,200 adults took part. The goal was to better understand the brain changes linked to schizophrenia, not to test a treatment.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

3,273 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Feb 2000

Lead sponsor

A government research agency

The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Patients with schizophrenia and healthy subjects from the community.

Ages

18 to 120 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: CONTROLS: No psychiatric or severe chronic medical illness at the time of the study, and by history. This includes the absence of substance abuse histories, learning disabilities and all DSM IV disorders. The investigators will evaluate medical histories and medical conditions that are judged not to interfere with the study may be allowed. No use of psychotropic substances in the last 3 months. There is no upper age limit. The lower age limit is 18 years. Controls will all have the capacity to consent. PATIENTS: Schizophrenia, any subtype or schizo-affective disorder according to DSM IV . Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features according to DSM IV. Menstrually-Related Mood Disorder. Mild to Moderate Parkinson's Disease (Hoehn and Yahr Stage 1-3). Williams Syndrome (partial or full) with IQ in the normal range. Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: CONTROLS AND PATIENTS: Impaired hearing. Pregnancy. Head trauma with loss of consciousness in the last year, or any evidence of functional impairment due to and persisting after head trauma. Patients or healthy volunteers with a known risk from exposure to high magnetic fields (e.g. patients with pace makers) and those who have metallic implants (e.g. braces) in the head region (likely to create artifact on the MRI scans) will be excluded from participating in the fMRI studies. History of any (excepting nicotine-related) DSM5-defined moderate to severe substance use disorder (or DSM-IV-defined substance dependence). Cumulative lifetime history of any (excepting nicotine-related) DSM5-defined mild substance use disorder (or any DSM-IV-defined substance abuse), either in excess of 5 years total or not in remission for at least 6 months. NIMH employees and staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy. Non-NIMH NIH employees and staff may participate and will be given the NIH Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for NIH Staff Who are Considering Participation in NIH Research. PATIENTS: Coexistence of another major mental illness at the time of the study. If the patients experienced other mental illnesses in the past (e.g. a learning disability or major depression), then this should be judged to be fully recovered. Major concurrent medical illness likely to interfere with the acquisition of the task. Concomitant medications which could interfere with performance on the task. Involuntary movements that interfere with positioning in the MRI scanner).

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

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