This study explores the effects of 7-day losartan (50mg) versus placebo with brief behavioural activation on emotional processing in young volunteers low in positive mood
Behavioural Activation (BA) is a first-line treatment for depression that aims to re-engage patients with rewarding activities, to improve mood. However, patients with low levels of positive mood respond less well to BA than others. Neuroscience has identified deficits in the processing of positive stimuli in this group of people, using cognitive-psychological computer tasks and brain imaging. Losartan, a licensed medication targeting the renin-angiotensin system, has recently been found to improve the processing of positive stimuli in healthy volunteers. Combining losartan with BA may improve treatment response in people with low positive mood, by improving positive information processing. This study will test this hypothesis. In a double-blind randomised trial, 76 participants with low positive mood will receive 7-day behavioural activation (BA) with daily losartan (50mg) or placebo. Before and after the intervention, they will complete computer tasks measuring processing of positive and negative information.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
76
7-day losartan (Cozaar, 50mg; oral tablet) with 7-day BA
7-day placebo (oral; microcellulose in identical capsules) with 7-day BA
Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGChange in reinforcement learning
reinforcement learning, calculated as the learning rate from negative and positive decision outcomes. Larger scores indicate better learning from an outcome.
Time frame: from baseline to post 7-day intervention
Change in approach-avoidance-task (AAT) effect score
mean reaction time of the pull trials of a valence category subtracted from the push trials of the same category, yielding a single indicator of approach/avoidance, with positive scores indicating relatively stronger approach and negative scores indicating relatively stronger avoidance
Time frame: from baseline to post 7-day intervention
Change in social approach decisions
% approach vs avoid decisions
Time frame: from baseline to post 7-day intervention
Change in motivational effort in the Apples Task
The task weighs effort costs against reward value. It involves a hand dynamometer to record effort. On each trial, participants receive an offer showing a reward (number of apples shown on a tree) and an effort level (height of marking on the tree trunk), which they can accept or reject (Yes/No response). On a subset of accepted trials, participants have to exert physical effort on the hand dynamometer to earn the reward (number of apples in the respective trial). Participants receive monetary reward for the number of apples collected. Key outcome marker is effort-reward valuation, i.e. % accepted trials based on combinations of effort and reward levels. Other outcomes: Force exerted relative to Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC), Reaction times of Yes/No.
Time frame: from baseline to post 7-day intervention
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