Protocol Number: 91-M-0124

Title:

Structural and Functional Imaging of Neuropsychiatric Patients and Normal Volunteers with 1.5 Tesla MRI

Number:

91-M-0124

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to compare differences in brain structure, chemistry, and functioning in individuals with brain and mental disorders compared to healthy volunteers.

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that results from subtle changes and abnormalities in neurons. These deficits likely occur in localized regions of the brain and may result in widespread, devastating consequences. The neuronal abnormalities are inherited through a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. Brain imaging technologies can be used to better characterize brain changes in individuals with schizophrenia. This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to identify predictable, quantifiable abnormalities in neurophysiology, neurochemistry and neuroanatomy that characterize schizophrenia and other neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

CONTROLS:

No psychiatric or severe chronic mental 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.

PATIENTS:

Schizophrenia, any subtype or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM IV, as detailed in protocol # 89-M-0160 ("Inpatient Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Inpatients", Dr. M. F. Egan, principal investigator) and #95-M-0150 ("A Longitudinal Investigation of Siblings of Schizophrenic and Manic-Depressive Patients", Dr. M. F. Egan, principal investigator).

Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features according to DSM IV as detailed in protocol.

Menstrually-Related Mood Disorder.

Mild to Moderate Parkinson's Disease (Hoehn and Yahr Stage 1-3).

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.

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.

Criteria for substance abuse met in the last 6 months.

Criteria for substance dependence in the last year. If criteria for dependence were met in the past, then the duration of the disorder was less than 3 years, or not judged to have produced long-term brain changes to allow the patient to be in the study.

Major concurrent medical illness likely to interfere with the acquisition of the task.

Concomitant medications which could interfere with performance on the task.

Presence of dyskinetic movements of the face and tongue (likely to interfere with eyeblink measures, or of gross involuntary movements of the whole body (likely to interfere with positioning in the MRI scanner).

Pregnant and Lactating women will be excluded from studies.

All subjects will be asked to refrain from smoking cigarettes or drinking coffee for 4 hours prior to the study.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Spectroscopy

Schizophrenia

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Brain Physiology

Brain Metabolism

Parkinson's Disease

Hallucinations

Delusions

Schizoaffective Disorder

Brain Imaging

Recruitment Keywords:

None

Conditions:

Healthy

Mental Disorder

Parkinson's Disease

Schizophrenia

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Contacts:

Bobby Das
National Institutes of Health
Building 10
Room 3C101
10 Center Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Phone: (301) 435-4593
Fax: (301) 435-0743

Electronic Address: bdas@ln.nimh.nih.gov

Citations:

Functional mapping of the human visual cortex by magnetic resonance imaging

Intrinsic signal changes accompanying sensory stimulation: functional brain mapping with magnetic resonance imaging

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of human brain activity during primary sensory stimulation

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Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 10/15/2004