Taking people in CanadaNo phase

Brain Imaging Study of Depression Following Mild COVID-19 Infection

Uses brain scans to study depression in adults after mild to moderate COVID-19.

Key facts

Who runs it: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Where: Toronto, CanadaSee the site
Trial code: NCT06086366
Registry title: Presynaptic Imaging in Major Depressive Episodes After COVID-19
Status: Recruiting
People taking part: 90 people, planned
Started: 22 Aug 2023
Expected to end: 10 Sept 2028
Type of study: Observational, 2 groups
Treatments tested: [11C]DTBZ PET scan
[18F]SDM8 PET scan
MRI scan
Record updated: 11 February 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 18 to 75 who had a new major depressive episode within 3 months after mild or moderate COVID-19. They are in good general physical health.

Age: 18 to 75 years
Sex: All sexes
Disease stage: New major depressive episode within 3 months after mild or moderate COVID-19, confirmed by a structured interview (SCID for DSM 5).
Earlier treatment: No antidepressants, stimulant medication or antipsychotics in the previous month (6 weeks for fluoxetine). No medications, herbal or natural health products with central nervous system effects in the past 2 weeks.

Main reasons for not taking part

Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Smoking, or recreational drug use including marijuana, in the past two months
History of neurological disease (except migraine and PASC) or psychotic symptoms before COVID-19
Severe substance or alcohol use disorder in the past, or mild to moderate in the past two years
Claustrophobia, metal implants or devices not safe for MRI, or a blood clotting disorder

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 20 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

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)

Who cannot take part

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
Use of medications or herbal products or natural health products with central nervous system effects in past 2 weeks based on self-report
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)
Presence of metal implant, object or electrical devices that are contraindicated for MRI, based on self-report
History of neurological disease (except migraine, and PASC) 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)
Current disorders of coagulation, blood or ongoing use of anticoagulant medication, based on self-report
Severe allergic reaction to alcohol
Presence of cigarette smoking in the past two months, based on self-report
Breastfeeding (for females)
Claustrophobia, based on self-report
Weight over 400lbs and height over 7ft (requirements for fitting in the scanners and hospital gowns)

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

Are you between 18 and 75 years old?

Where in Canada

Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthToronto, CanadaContact: Yuhan LiuTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

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.

The 2 groups in the trial

COVID-DNP
Participants that have recovered from mild or moderate COVID-19 respiratory symptoms and have a new onset major depressive episode (MDE).
Treatment: [11C]DTBZ PET scan, [18F]SDM8 PET scan, and MRI scan
Healthy Control
Participants in good physical health, age- and sex-matched to Group 1 and 2 participants.
Treatment: [11C]DTBZ PET scan, [18F]SDM8 PET scan, and MRI scan