Investigating the Impacts of Early Life Experience on the Brain & Behaviour

NCT06823492 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-17962-32800
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to learn more about how early life experience influences the brain, behaviour, and the immune system later in life. This will help improve understanding of why certain early life experiences (e.g., adoption, stress and parental separation) can cause difficulties for some people when they are adults. The long-term goal of this research is to develop tools that could identify young people who are vulnerable to developing future problems, this will ensure people get the help that they need at the right time for them. This study will use psychological assessment, online games, brain imaging and blood sampling to help improve our understanding of how and why early life experience can influence mental health, cognition, brain development and the immune system later in life.

Conditions

Mental Health; Neurodevelopment; ADHD; Autism; Depression - Major Depressive Disorder; Anxiety Disorder (Panic Disorder or GAD)

Keywords

fMRI; cognition; brain imaging; adoption; trauma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Mental health prevalence

  Will be assessed on an individual subject level using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V (SCID-5). (Outcome Measure: Summary counts of participants in each group showing the occurrence of different mental health disorders)

  January 2027

• Neurodevelopmental condition prevalence

  Autism will be assessed using the online screening tool, Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). (Outcome Measure: Summary counts of participants in each group showing the occurrence of different neurodevelopmental disorders)

  March 2027

• Neural Processing Differences related to childhood trauma and mental health: whole brain anlaysis

  fMRI analyses will first be analysed using a typical univariate approach using Statistical Parametric Mapping. Exploratory whole brain analyses will be conducted. Statistical comparisons will be made between the adopted and control groups. Outcome measure: BOLD signal change in brain regions identified during whole brain comparisons which are associated with specific conditions of interest/task contrasts, and how these differ between the groups.

  March 2027

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Employment

  March 2027

• Education level

  March 2027

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

Young adults, aged 18-15 who were not adopted and have no experience of childhood trauma

Adopted Group

Young adults, aged 18-15 who were adopted

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Control Group (Non-Adopted)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-24
• Reside in Greater Manchester
• You are not enrolled on a university degree course and do not hold a university degree qualification
• Lived with one or both birth parents throughout childhood.
• Able to travel to the University of Manchester
• Able to understand the study information and participate in the assessment procedures described below (independently or with reading support from a researcher, friend or family member)
• Able to read text on a computer screen (using glasses or contact lenses if required)
• To sign up for this study one or more of the following statements should apply to you:
• I am not currently in education employment or training, or I am unemployed.
• I receive benefits from the Government e.g., housing benefits, universal credit, personal independent payment (PIP), disability benefit, job seekers allowance.
• I am currently struggling due mental health problems or neurodiversity (e.g., depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, eating disorder)

You may not qualify if:

• You were looked after by the local authority (e.g., foster, kinship care or residential children's home) or adopted during childhood.
• Any experience of childhood trauma (including neglect, physical/verbal abuse, sexual abuse or exposure to domestic violence).
• Your family required input from social services due to child protection concerns.
• You are experiencing symptoms of and have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Manchester: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of Manchester

Manchester, M13 9SS, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Autistic Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Panic Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Wounds and Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof Chair in Affective Neuroscience

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 10, 2024
• First Posted: February 12, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2027
• Last Updated: February 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)