Observational Study on Neural Activity and Psychiatric Symptoms

This study aims to understand how brain activity relates to psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety. Researchers will record brain signals (neural activity) from people who are already having brain monitoring for epilepsy. They will then compare these brain signals to scores from questionnaires about psychiatric symptoms, such as those for depression (CESD-R), anxiety (STAI), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (YBOCS). This study is for adults aged 18 and older who are undergoing epilepsy monitoring at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and can speak English. The goal is to learn more about the brain's role in these conditions. The study plans to include 100 participants.

Study design
This is an observational study, meaning researchers will collect information without giving any new treatments. It plans to enroll 100 participants.
What's involved
You would complete questionnaires about psychiatric symptoms during your epilepsy monitoring stay. Neural activity recordings will also be collected during this time, lasting approximately 15 minutes for each measurement.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary measurements of neural activity and questionnaire scores are taken during your epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes for each.

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NCT04725409

Neural Correlates of Psychiatric Disorders

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
~100 participants
Updated 2026-06-12 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Neural activity correlating with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale - Revised (CESD-R)
Measured over During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes
+6 more outcomes measured
Psychiatric Disorder
Memory Disorders
1 sites across 1 states
Tennessee1
  • Sarah Bick, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Undergoing SEEG monitoring at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
At least 18 years of age
English speaking

Exclusion

Age \<18
Not able to complete questionnaires (e.g., unable to comprehend instructions or follow directions)
  • Neural activity correlating with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale - Revised (CESD-R)During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes

    The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale - Revised (CESD-R) is a commonly used and well validated depression screening tool consisting of 20 questions. Scores range from 0 to 60 and a score of 16 or above indicates a risk for clinical depression. CESD-R scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity

  • Neural activity correlating with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes

    The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a validated anxiety scale that screens for current anxiety state and chronic anxiety trait. It consists of 40 questions with scores ranging from 20 to 80. A score of 40 or above indicates risk of anxiety. STAI scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity

  • Neural activity correlating with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes

    The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) is the most commonly used and well validated measure of obsessive compulsive features. It consists of 10 questions with scores ranging from 0 to 40. A score of 8-15 indicates mild OCD, 16-23 indicates moderate OCD, 24-31 indicates severe OCD and 32-40 indicates extreme OCD. YBOCS scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity

  • Neural activity correlating with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS11)During patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 15 minutes

    The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS11) is a well validated measure of impulsive traits that consists of 30 questions. The scores of the BIS11 range from 30 to 120 with scores above 72 indicating high levels of impulsivity. BIS11 scores will be correlated with resting state measures of neural activity and connectivity

  • Local field potential changes in response to study tasksDuring patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes

    These local field potential changes are neural recordings in response to the stop signal tasks and n back tasks. In the stop signal reaction time task the subject will see a visual stimulus and be asked to press a button to respond. On some trials an auditory stimulus will also be presented which will indicate that the subject should not press the response button (they should suppress their response). In the n-back verbal working memory task the subject will see a series of words presented sequentially on a screen. During each word presentation the subject will press a button to indicate whether or not the word matches that presented n trials prior

  • Behavioral performance changes with stimulationDuring patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes

    Stimulation will occur during the stop signal task and n back task. In the stop signal reaction time task the subject will see a visual stimulus and be asked to press a button to respond. On some trials an auditory stimulus will also be presented which will indicate that the subject should not press the response button (they should suppress their response). In the n-back verbal working memory task the subject will see a series of words presented sequentially on a screen. During each word presentation the subject will press a button to indicate whether or not the word matches that presented n trials prior. Stimulation will be delivered through pre-selected SEEG electrodes via the Ripple Neuromed Summit system. Test stimulation will be performed prior to stimulation during the task to test for safety and tolerability, with the patient monitored for symptoms by a neurosurgeon or neurologist.

  • Single unit neuronal spiking changes in response to study tasksDuring patient's epilepsy monitoring stay, approximately 20-30 minutes

    Single neuron (single unit) spiking activity is recorded through SEEG micro neural recordings in response to patients completing neuro cognitive tasks.