Clinical trial NCT06086366: Presynaptic Imaging in Major Depressive Episodes After COVID-19
Official title: Presynaptic Imaging in Major Depressive Episodes After COVID-19
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Conditions: Long COVID
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Episode
Keywords: PET
Long COVID
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Episode
Anhedonia
Dopamine Neuron Loss
Lead sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-10-17
Enrollment: 90
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 75
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19 respiratory symptoms with subsequent onset of COVID-DNP

Brief summary: The goal of this observational study focuses on understanding and addressing a subset of persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms occurring within 3 months after mild to moderate COVID-19 infection (COVID-DNP). COVID-DNP encompasses major depressive episodes (MDE) with or without additional neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Detailed description: Participants will undergo two positron emission tomography (PET) scans, one \[11C\]DTBZ scan (for vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and one \[18F\]SDM8 scan (for synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A)), as well as one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are:

1. The investigators will determine if VMAT2 binding potential (VMAT2 BPND) is reduced in ventral striatum and dorsal putamen in COVID-DNP.
2. The investigators will determine if SV2A total distribution volume (SV2A VT) is reduced in ventral striatum and dorsal putamen in COVID-DNP

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* New onset MDE within 3 months after mild or moderate COVID-19, with MDE verified by the research version SCID for DSM 5. See "Positive COVID-19 diagnosis" listed after inclusion/exclusion criteria for a description of how this is determined.
* Age 18 to 75.
* Good general physical health with no active medical conditions based on self-report (except migraine or PASC).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Use of antidepressants in the previous month (6 weeks for fluoxetine).
* Use of stimulant medication affecting dopamine release in the previous month
* Use of antipsychotics in the previous month
* History of neurological disease (except migraine, and PASC) based on self-report
* Use of medications or herbal products or natural health products with central nervous system effects in past 2 weeks based on self-report
* Presence of cigarette smoking in the past two months, based on self-report
* Lifetime diagnosis of severe Substance or Alcohol Use Disorder, or diagnosis of mild to moderate Substance or Alcohol Use Disorder in the past two years, based on self-report and verified by the Research Version of Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (SCID-5-RV)
* Use of recreational drugs, including marijuana, in the past two months, based on self-report and verified by the Research Version of Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (SCID-5-RV)
* Positive urine drug or cotinine screen at any timepoint during the study
* History of psychotic symptoms secondary to schizophrenia, schizophreniform, bipolar disorder, or brief psychotic disorder prior to COVID-19, based on self-report and verified by the Research Version of Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (SCID-5-RV)
* Currently pregnant, based on self-report or positive pregnancy test at any timepoint during the study, in females (in our PET Centre females up to 65 years of age are given a urine pregnancy test prior to every PET scan)
* Breastfeeding (for females)
* Current disorders of coagulation, blood or ongoing use of anticoagulant medication, based on self-report
* Claustrophobia, based on self-report
* Weight over 400lbs and height over 7ft (requirements for fitting in the scanners and hospital gowns)
* Presence of metal implant, object or electrical devices that are contraindicated for MRI, based on self-report
* Severe allergic reaction to alcohol

Primary outcomes:
measure: Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 Binding Potential (VAMT2 BPND)
timeFrame: within 3 to 4 weeks after initiation of screening
measure: Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Total Distribution Volume (SV2A VT)
timeFrame: within 3 to 4 weeks after initiation of screening
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Toronto
country: Canada
facility: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
name: Jeffrey Meyer, M.D., PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: