Brain scans reveal energy clues in schizophrenia
NCT ID NCT06236048
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study compares brain energy use, lactate, and glutamate levels in 75 people with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers using advanced MRI and PET scans. Researchers aim to see if brain glucose use is lower and lactate higher in schizophrenia, and if glutamate varies more. No treatment is given; it is purely observational to gather knowledge.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help researchers better understand how brain energy and glutamate relate to schizophrenia, potentially guiding future treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It is small (75 participants) and early-stage, so findings may not apply broadly or lead directly to new therapies.
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
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About 75 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
healthy volunteers - community sample people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia - clinical mental health teams.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: Healthy volunteer group: 1\. No history of psychiatric illness, as assessed on the Mini neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Treatment responsive schizophrenia group: 1. Meeting ICD-11 criteria for schizophrenia (F20) 2. Meeting symptomatic consensus criteria for remission, defined as scores of mild or less on items P1, P2, P3, N1, N4, N6, G5 and G9 of the PANSS and no history of symptomatic relapse in the past 6 months. 3. Currently receiving one or more of the following antipsychotic medications: Olanzapine; Risperidone; Quetiapine; Amisulpride; Aripiprazole; Paliperidone. 4. Antipsychotic adherent, defined as having a score of \>=moderate adherence on the Kemp scale. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia group: 1. Meeting ICD-11 criteria for schizophrenia (F20) 2. Meeting modified consensus criteria for treatment resistance, including history of at least two antipsychotic treatment trials each lasting ≥6 weeks at a dose of ≥400mg chlorpromazine equivalents. 3. Total PANSS total score \> 70 4. Moderate functional impairment (\<60 on the SOFAS) 5. Currently receiving one or more of the following antipsychotic medications: Clozapine; Olanzapine; Risperidone; Quetiapine; Amisulpride; Aripiprazole; Paliperidone. 6. Antipsychotic adherent, defined as having a score of \>=moderate adherence on the Kemp scale. Exclusion Criteria: All participants: 1. Pregnancy or breastfeeding 2. Lacking in mental capacity to provide informed consent to study participation. 2\. Diabetes or history of taking an antidiabetic medication 3. Presence of contraindication to MRI at 7 Tesla, including metallic or electronic implants and dental wires. 4\. Severe claustrophobia prohibiting participation on PET or MRI 5. Body size above the comfortable limits for the MRI scanner. 6. Previous participation in research or clinical procedure/s involving ionising radiation, which, including the current study, would result in total radiation exposure \>=10mSv within 12 months 7. History of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes 8. Meeting ICD-11 criteria for organic mental disorder (F00-F09) 9. Meeting ICD-11 criteria for mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19) 10. With exclusion of nicotine or cannabis, meeting ICD-11 criteria for psychoactive substance dependence 11. Participation in clinical trial investigating any pharmacological agent other than a licensed antipsychotic compound in the last month.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
RECRUITINGLondon, United Kingdom
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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