The aim of this study is to investigate the differences and similarities in AVH in healthy subjects and in patients with different psychiatric disorders. In addition, the underlying biological mechanisms of AVH will be studied in detail:1)…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
- Phenomenology: The differences and resemblance in the phenomenology of AVH
between the different groups
-Genotyping: associations of AVH with genes or genetic regions (by searching
the whole genome).
- Brain imaging: fMRI: activation maps of language-related and
hallucination-related activity will be compared between the different groups.
DTI: connectivity between the activated brain areas will be assessed and
compared.
Secondary outcome
no secundary parameters
Background summary
Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are very common in schizophrenia.
Therefore, recent models of AVH are generally based on results from studies in
patients with schizophrenia. However, AVH also occur in other psychiatric
disorders, including unipolar depression, bipolar disorder, personality
disorder and dementia. In addition, AVH are relatively frequent (10-15%) among
healthy subjects. It is currently unclear whether AVH in psychiatric disorders
and in healthy individuals are the same. In the proposed project, the
differences and resemblance in the phenomenology of AVH in healthy subjects and
in patients with psychiatric disorders will be investigated. The genetic
background of the susceptibility for AVH will be investigated by comparing
whole genome scans between subjects with and without AVH. In addition, the
underlying biological mechanisms of AVH will be studied with brain imaging
techniques.
Study objective
The aim of this study is to investigate the differences and similarities in AVH
in healthy subjects and in patients with different psychiatric disorders. In
addition, the underlying biological mechanisms of AVH will be studied in detail:
1) Phenomenology: difference and resemblance in the phenomenology of AVH will
be studied in the different groups.
2) Genotyping: the genetic background of the susceptibility to AVH will be
investigated, by testing associations between AVH and genes by searching the
whole genome.
3) Brain imaging: activation maps of language-related and hallucination-related
activity will be acquired in the different groups. EEG during hallucinations
will also be measured to assess the fast temporal aspects of AVH
Study design
The study can be divided in two parts.
1) Subjects will be asked to fill in some questionnaires and participate in an
interviews, to describe the nature of AVH in detail. In addition, a small blood
sample will be taken for genetic analysis.
2) A small subset of subjects from all diagnostic categories will be invited
for brain imaging. A functional scan will be obtained while the subject is
engaged in a language task. A second fMRI scan will be made while participants
experience hallucinations (they have to bush a button while hearing AVH). A DTI
scan will be obtained to assess connectivity between the activated areas. Fast
temporal aspects of the AVH will be assessed with EEG.
Study burden and risks
Participants will be occupied for approximately 1.5 hours. The second part of
the study will take an additional 1.5-2 hours. The main burden for the
participant sis the time spend for this study. Some subjects may become anxious
in the MRI scanner, in which case the scan will be aborted immediately. There
are no health risks associated with this project. The acquired data will
increase knowledge on the biological substrates of AVH, which may offer new
insight for the development of new treatment strategies for AVH.
Heidelberglaan 100
Postbus 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht
NL
Heidelberglaan 100
Postbus 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
General inclusion criteria:
- age > 18 years
- has experienced auditory verbal hallucinations at least once within the last three months.;Phenomenology:
-healthy subjects
-patients with schizophrenia
-patients with personality disorder
-patients with bipolar disorder
-patients with unipolar depression.;Specific inclusion criteria for brain imaging:
- frequent hallucinations, at least 4 bouts per hour
Exclusion criteria
General exclusion criteria:
- age < 18 years
Exclusion for the fMRI part:
- methal objects in or around the body that cannot be removed
-pregnancy
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL13473.041.06 |