Brain scans reveal how anxiety and depression team up on threat
NCT ID NCT06004115
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study uses brain imaging and a single dose of the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam to understand how people with both depression and anxiety disorders process threats differently than those with depression alone. About 165 adults will complete two sessions involving startle tests and MRI scans. The goal is to uncover brain circuit differences that could guide better treatments for co-occurring anxiety and depression.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Lorazepam (a single 1 mg dose)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors better understand and treat co-occurring anxiety and depression by revealing how the brain responds to threat.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early mechanistic study, not a treatment trial. It uses a single dose of an existing drug to probe brain function, so it won't directly lead to new therapies. Results may not apply to all patients.
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
-
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
RECRUITINGTulsa, Oklahoma, 74136, United States
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