This study will test whether seven days administration of a serotonin receptor subtype 4 (5HT4) agonist called PF-04995274 has positive effects on cognition, emotional processing and neural activity in unmedicated depressed patients compared to placebo. The study will also include a group of patients randomised to seven days administration of citalopram (20 mg), which is a standard treatment for depression.
This study uses a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised between-groups design to test if administration of a serotonin receptor subtype 4 (5HT4) agonist called PF-04995274 has positive effects on emotional processing and neural activity in unmedicated depressed patients. Participants are patients who fulfill criteria for current episode of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and they will be randomised to receive 7 days treatment with either PF-04995274 (15 mg daily), citalopram (20 mg daily) or a matched placebo. Participants will come for a Screening Visit, a First Dose Visit, Research Visit One (including MRI scan) and Research Visit Two (including measures of emotional processing and non-emotion cognition).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
90
PF-04995274 tablets
Citalopram capsule
Placebo tablet, identical to PF-04995274 tablet
University of Oxford
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Hippocampal BOLD signal during fMRI
Hippocampal and parahippocampal BOLD signal during familiar novel task - participants are presented with either previously trained (familiar) or novel images and are asked to identify whether animal or non-animal with a button press
Time frame: Completed on Day 6-8
BOLD signal during fMRI
Amygdala, anterior cingulate, prefrontal and orbitofrontal BOLD signal during emotional faces task - participants are presented with pictures of facial expressions of emotions and are asked to identify the gender of each face via button press.
Time frame: Completed on Day 6-8
Auditory Verbal Learning Task (AVLT)
Accuracy of recall on the auditory verbal learning task
Time frame: Completed on Day 7-9
Emotional Memory Task
Recall and recognition of affective words displayed earlier in the testing session is tested
Time frame: Completed on Day 7-9
Facial Expression Recognition Task (FERT)
Facial expressions of basic emotions (happiness, fear, anger, disgust, sadness, surprise) are displayed on the screen and participants are asked to correctly classify them. Each emotion is presented at different intensity levels. Responses are made via a button-press and accuracy and reaction time are recorded.
Time frame: Completed on Day 7-9
Probabilistic Instrumental Learning Task (PILT)
Participants have to learn which shapes are associated with wins and losses and sensitivity to reward is assessed.
Time frame: Completed on Day 7-9
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Placebo capsule, identical to citalopram capsule