Impact of Stress on Brain Energy Metabolism

NCT06243783 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: PSY-NIL-0012
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 68
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Stress plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of mental disorders. However, individual differences in the vulnerability to acute and repeated stress are not well understood. Aim: This work aims to investigate individual differences in glucose metabolism and directional connectivity regulating the neuronal stress response. Design: 68 healthy volunteers will undergo two simultaneous PET/MRI measurements one week apart. Participants will complete the Montreal Imaging Stress Test during each measurement and in-between. Effects of stress on cognitive performance will be assessed using the n-back working memory task. Individual cortisol levels will be acquired to identify stress (non)responders as well as (non)habituators. Implications: This work will characterize differences between stress responders vs. non-responders and stress habituators vs. non-habituators in terms of energy metabolism and network connectivity. This individual difference in the stress response may represent an important cornerstone for future evaluation of patients with mental disorders.

Conditions

Stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Stress induced changes in glucose metabolism

  Glucose metabolism will be quantified from \[18F\]FDG PET imaging.

  1 week

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Stress induced changes in directional connectivity

  1 week

• Stress induced changes in cognitive performance

  1 week

Study Arms (1)

Stress

EXPERIMENTAL

Montreal Imaging Stress Test during each PET/MRI measurement and in-between

Behavioral: Montreal Imaging Stress Test

Interventions

Montreal Imaging Stress Test BEHAVIORAL

In the Montreal Imaging Stress Test, participants are required to solve basic mathematical tasks, but the allowed reaction time is set lower than their average.

Stress

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• years
• right-handedness
• willingness and competence to sign the informed consent form

You may not qualify if:

• History of or current physical, neurological or psychiatric disorder
• History of or current substance abuse or medication, including antipsychotic, antidepressant and antianxiety agents
• Pregnancy of current breast-feeding
• Contraindications for MRI-scanning (e.g., metal implants, steel grafts, etc.), including dental implants causing signal artifacts
• Failure to comply with the study protocol or to follow the instructions of the investigating team.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rupert Lanzenberger: lead
• University of Konstanz: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna

Vienna, Austria

RECRUITING

Related Links

• Neuroimaging Labs, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna

Study Officials

• Andreas Hahn, Assoc.Prof.

  Department of Psychiatry and Psychtherapy, Medical University of Vienna

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Andreas Hahn, Assoc.Prof.

CONTACT

+43140400; andreas.hahn@meduniwien.ac.at

Rupert Lanzenberger, Prof.

CONTACT

+43140400; rupert.lanzenberger@meduniwien.ac.at

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof. PD MD, Head Neuroimaging Labs

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2024
• First Posted: February 6, 2024
• Study Start: March 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 29, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 29, 2028
• Last Updated: December 23, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: After study completion.
• Access Criteria: Public access.

Locations

AU (1)