Social Behaviour Clinical Trial
Official title:
Everyday Social Behavior and Mood in Individuals With a Family History of Depression. Investigating the Role of Serotonin
Rationale: Poor social functioning may contribute to major depressive disorder (MDD). Poor
serotonin function may also contribute to MDD. Recent research suggests that serotonin plays
a role in regulating human social behaviour. Therefore it would be intriguing to investigate
the role of serotonin in regulating the quality of everyday social interactions in a
population at risk for MDD. Human social behaviour can be reliably assessed in everyday life
using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA).
Objective: This study aims to investigate how an experimental increase in serotonin
influences social functioning in healthy adults with a first-degree family member diagnosed
with MDD. The primary goal is to investigate the role of serotonin in regulating everyday
social behaviour, measured using EMA. This will be done using oral supplementation with
tryptophan, the amino acid precursor of serotonin. Secondary goals are to determine how this
experimental manipulation influences people's feelings as well as their perceptions of
other's social behaviour following interpersonal events, and social cognitions at the end of
the day. An exploratory goal is to investigate if these effects are moderated by genes
thought to be involved in MDD.
The primary hypothesis to be tested is that tryptophan will reduce quarrelsome behaviour.
n/a
Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Basic Science
| Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed |
NCT01599052 -
Social Cognition in Children Treated for a Brain Tumour
|