Brain scans reveal how a calming drug affects emotion in psychosis
NCT ID NCT04004416
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study investigates how a medication called lorazepam, which boosts the calming brain chemical GABA, changes emotional brain activity in people with psychosis. Participants aged 16–60 with conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, along with healthy volunteers, will undergo brain scans after taking either lorazepam or a placebo. The goal is to better understand the role of GABA in emotional processing and mental illness.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- lorazepam
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could reveal how brain chemistry differs in psychosis, pointing toward better-targeted treatments for emotional symptoms.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase observational study, not a treatment trial. Lorazepam is used only as a probe, and results may not lead directly to new therapies.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
-
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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