Sleep drug could unlock secrets of depression and anxiety

NCT ID NCT07267559

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of Oxford Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at how daridorexant, a sleep medication that blocks the brain chemical orexin, affects emotional processing and learning in 62 healthy adults. Participants take a single dose of the drug or a placebo and then complete tasks that measure emotional responses and learning. The goal is to better understand orexin's role in mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Daridorexant (brand name Quviviq), a sleep medication that blocks orexin, a brain chemical involved in sleep, emotion, and stress.
What this could lead to: If successful, this study could reveal how orexin influences emotional and cognitive processes, potentially pointing toward new treatments for depression and anxiety.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not patients. It only measures brain responses, not actual treatment effects, so results may not translate to real-world therapies.

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

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

learning disability

As listed by the trial registrant

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

COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING EMOTIONAL PROCESSING LEARNING

Contacts and locations

Locations

Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
RECRUITING

Oxford, OX3 7JX, United Kingdom

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.