Developing Brain, Impulsivity and Compulsivity

NCT04631042 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 20014720-HG-0147
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 1,100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Impulsivity is acting 'without thinking.' Compulsivity is being overly inflexible. People vary in how impulsive or compulsive they are. Extreme versions of these behaviors play a role in mental disorders. Researchers want to study changes in the brain to learn more about these behaviors. Differences in genes may also play a role. Objective: To learn about genetic \& brain features that explain why levels of impulsivity and compulsivity vary across people. Eligibility: People ages 6 - 80 Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history and medical record review. Participants will talk about their mental and behavioral development. They may discuss topics like drug use and sexual activity. They will complete surveys about their compulsivity and impulsivity. Parents of child participants may also complete these surveys. Participants may take memory, attention, and thinking tests. They may give blood or saliva samples for gene studies and they may give blood to make induced pluripotent stem cells. Participants may have their face and irises photographs taken. Participants may have a magnetic resonance imaging scan. It will take pictures of their brain. The scanner is shaped like a cylinder. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner. A coil will be placed over their head. They will lie still, watch a movie, and play a game. Participants may ask family members to join the study. Researchers are particularly interested in recruiting twin pairs to the study. Participants under age 25 may repeat these tests every 1-2 years until they turn 25 or until the study ends. For those over age 25, participation will last less than 1 month.

Conditions

Typical Development; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Conduct Disorder; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

Neurodevelopmental disorder; Twin; Natural History; Heritability; Glutamate; developmental trajectory; Brain Connectivity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Glutamate concentration measured using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

  Age-related change in cortical glutamate levels and its moderation by individual differences in levels of impulsivity and compulsivity.

  Yearly if possible

• Heritability of cortical glutamate (proportion of variance explained by additive genetic factors).

  Degree to which glutamate levels are under genetic control.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Structural and functional connectivity

  Yearly if possible

• Glutamate levels

  weeks to months

• Differences in glutamate levels and other neurodevelopmental markers within twin pairs.

  Yearly if possible

Study Arms (1)

impulsive compulsive

Individuals between 6 and 80 years of age with a wide range of impulsivity/compulsivity behaviors - ranging from normal to mildly/extremely impaired.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals between 6 and 80 years of age with a wide range of impulsivity/compulsivity behaviors - ranging from normal to mildly/extremely impaired - will be recruited. No specific demographic groups will be targeted. Recruitment will be mainly done in the District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia area, however some participants might travel from elsewhere.

You may qualify if:

• In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
• Must be between 6 and 80 years of age.
• Ability of participant to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

You may not qualify if:

• An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• Cognitively not capable of performing study procedures or lack of capacity to provide informed consent. Indications of a lack of cognitive capacity could include a known full-scale IQ under 70, or a history from the screening interview that implies global intellectual disabilities (e.g., placement in a school for children with intellectual disability etc.)
• Very premature birth (i.e., birth before 32 weeks of gestational age).
• Any known brain abnormalities (e.g., tumor, periventricular leukomalacia, microcephaly) or history of medical conditions known to affect cerebral anatomy (e.g., epilepsy, history of stroke, head injury with a loss of consciousness of one hour or more).
• Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia, psychosis not otherwise specified).
• Dementia, or other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede compliance or possibly hinder completion of the study.
• Pregnant women.
• Any other medical or psychiatric condition that in the opinion of the PI may confound study data/assessments.
• \. Individuals who are not able to receive an MRI (e.g., metal bioimplants, claustrophobia, inability to lie flat on their backs, pregnant women, and any other contraindications for MRI scanning according to the NMR Center MRI safety guidelines).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (3)

• Ziegler G, Hauser TU, Moutoussis M, Bullmore ET, Goodyer IM, Fonagy P, Jones PB; NSPN Consortium; Lindenberger U, Dolan RJ. Compulsivity and impulsivity traits linked to attenuated developmental frontostriatal myelination trajectories. Nat Neurosci. 2019 Jun;22(6):992-999. doi: 10.1038/s41593-019-0394-3. Epub 2019 May 13.

  PMID: 31086316 BACKGROUND

• Naaijen J, Lythgoe DJ, Amiri H, Buitelaar JK, Glennon JC. Fronto-striatal glutamatergic compounds in compulsive and impulsive syndromes: a review of magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015 May;52:74-88. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.02.009. Epub 2015 Feb 21.

  PMID: 25712432 BACKGROUND

• Fineberg NA, Chamberlain SR, Goudriaan AE, Stein DJ, Vanderschuren LJ, Gillan CM, Shekar S, Gorwood PA, Voon V, Morein-Zamir S, Denys D, Sahakian BJ, Moeller FG, Robbins TW, Potenza MN. New developments in human neurocognition: clinical, genetic, and brain imaging correlates of impulsivity and compulsivity. CNS Spectr. 2014 Feb;19(1):69-89. doi: 10.1017/S1092852913000801.

  PMID: 24512640 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Conduct Disorder; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Study Officials

• Tonya J White, M.D.

  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Tonya J White, M.D.

CONTACT

(301) 496-5192; tonya.white@nih.gov

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2020
• First Posted: November 17, 2020
• Study Start: September 30, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2031
• Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: The timeline for data sharing will follow the NHGRI Genomic Data Sharing Policy. Currently data is deposited following IRB review once the study data collection is complete and the data has undergone quality control steps.
• Access Criteria: Access requests for specific research purposes using NIH controlled-access data are reviewed by NIH Data Access Committees (DACs).

Locations

US (1)