Inflammation and Blood Brain Barrier Integrity as Biomarkers of Suicidal Behavior

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, MONTPELLIER · Sep 14, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how inflammation in the body may affect the blood-brain barrier in people who have attempted suicide, particularly those dealing with depression. Researchers believe that inflammation might play a role in suicidal behavior by disrupting the blood-brain barrier, which is like a protective filter for the brain. By examining different inflammation markers and brain health indicators, the study aims to better understand the biological factors linked to suicidal behavior.

To participate in this trial, you need to be between 18 and 55 years old and have a current diagnosis of major depression. You must have attempted suicide within the last eight days, or if you're part of the control group, have never had any suicidal behavior. Participants will undergo tests to look at inflammation and brain function. This study is currently recruiting participants, and it is important to note that individuals with certain medical conditions or who are taking specific medications may not be eligible. If you join, you will help contribute to important research that could improve understanding of the risks associated with suicide and depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Common inclusion criteria:
• • Aged between 18 and 55 years old,
• • Affiliated to a French National Social Security System
• • Able to understand the nature, purpose and methodology of the study
• • Able to give written informed consent
• • Specific inclusion criteria
• Suicide attempters:
• • Subject with a main psychiatric diagnosis of current major depressive episode according to DSM-5 criteria (the existence of psychiatric comorbidities is not a non-inclusion criterion)
• • Subject with a recent history of proven suicide attempt (within the 8 days before inclusion)
• • Subject with a history of maximum 2 previous lifetime proven SA
• Affective controls:
• • Subject with a main psychiatric diagnosis of current major depressive episode according to DSM-5 criteria (the existence of psychiatric comorbidities is not a non-inclusion criterion),
• • Subject without any lifetime history suicidal behavior (proven, interrupted or aborted)
• Healthy controls:
• • - Subject who have no current or past personal history of psychiatric disorders according to DSM5 criteria.
• • Non inclusion criteria
• • History of psychotic disorders
• • Diagnostic of illicit substance / alcohol use disorder within the last 6 months
• • Current inflammation-related symptoms including fever and infectious or inflammatory disease
• • Severe symptomatic or unstable medical condition (e.g., unstable endocrine or cardiovascular disease)
• • Medical disorders affecting CNS function (e.g., history of severe head trauma, epilepsy, tumor)
• • Current use of specific medications known to affect the immune system, such as corticosteroids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin and statins
• • Contraindication to MRI or impossibility to assess, or doubt about a contraindication to the MRI: metallic artificial heart valve, pacemaker, cerebrovascular clips ferromagnetic materials, metallic foreign body that can be mobilized, in particular cerebral or intraocular, prosthesis ferromagnetic, impossibility of absolute immobility in supine position, claustrophobia.
• • Vaccination in the last month
• • Law protected or deprived of liberty subject
• • Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• • BMI \> 30 kg/m2
• • Having reached 6000€ annual compensation for participating to clinical trials
• • Being in exclusion period for another study