Identifying the Neural Basis of Capability for Suicide

NCT03327129 | Suspended

• 1 other identifier: SRO-01
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Since capability for suicide involves overriding potential pain, and the opioid system plays a strong role in controlling pain perception, it follows that capability for suicide may be impacted by the opioid system. The goal of the proposed research is to identify the neural network underlying capability for suicide in order to determine if it can be a target for identifying high-risk individuals and for intervention.

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation; Major Depressive Disorder; Suicide; Psychiatric Illness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Neural network underlying acquired capability for suicide

  Measure the correlation between acquired capability for suicide and brain activity during a pressure pain task using fMRI in patients

  2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Correlation between pain task performance and acquired capability for suicide

  2 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Healthy Controls

Subjects will have no personal or family psychiatric history and no suicide attempts.

Procedure: fMRI

Patients with SI

Subjects will have suicidal ideation (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale suicide item \>=2).

Procedure: fMRI

Interventions

fMRI PROCEDURE

An fMRI scan will be conducted to collect neuroimaging data. The scanning session will consist of a structural MRI, followed by resting state and task-based functional MRI protocol.

Healthy Controls; Patients with SI

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects will recruited from Mental Health Clinics at St. Michael's Hospital from Mood Disorders Clinics and self-referrals from advertisements in Mental Health Department.

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18-70
• Capability of giving informed consent
• Not currently pregnant or lactating (due to potential confounding of brain activity as a result of differing hormone levels)

You may not qualify if:

• Lifetime history of any substance abuse, psychosis
• Current use of any opioid acting drugs
• Current use of any prescription pain medication
• Use of over the counter pain medications within 15 hours of brain scan
• For daily users of a benzodiazepine, stimulant or atypical antipsychotic, dose within 12 hours of brain scan
• For as needed users of a benzodiazepine, stimulant or atypical antipsychotic, dose within 2 weeks of brain scan. This is because non-daily use will have more unpredictable effects on brain imaging results than those who are using these medications on a regular basis. The 2 weeks will ensure the drug is not in the system.
• Medical condition requiring immediate investigation or treatment
• Participation in experimental treatment trials for the study duration.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Unity Health Toronto: lead

Study Sites (1)

St. Michael's Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, M5B 0C1, Canada

Location

Biospecimen

Retention: NONE RETAINED

A urine sample to test for toxicology.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Major; Suicide; Suicidal Ideation; Mental Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Sakina Rizvi, PhD

  Unity Health Toronto

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 23, 2017
• First Posted: October 31, 2017
• Study Start: January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

CA (1)