Early Psychosis: Investigating Cognition

Prior treatment

• Current use of any medication which may interfere with the study in the opinion of the investigator, i.e. any medication that might affect the neurochemicals of interest
• Contraindications for MR scanning as assessed by SPMIC screening form and trained scanner operator (e.g. claustrophobia, pregnancy, metal implants, etc.)
• Having taken part within the previous month as a participant in a clinical trial that involved taking a drug or having an invasive procedure.
• Current use of any medication, which may interfere with the study in the opinion of the investigator i.e. any medication that might affect the neurochemicals of interest.
• Having taken part within the previous month as a participant in a clinical trial that involved taking a drug, being paid an inconvenience allowance, or having an invasive procedure (e.g. venepuncture \>50ml, endoscopy).
• Having taken part within the previous month as a participant in a clinical trial that involved taking a drug or having an invasive procedure.

Other illness

• Clinically significant neurological or comorbid psychiatric disorder in the opinion of the investigator.
• History of clinically significant head injury
• Contraindications for transcranial direct current stimulation as assessed by standard screening form (e.g. cardiac pacemaker or other implanted devices, seizures, epilepsy, open head wound, etc.)
• Personal or family history of psychosis.
• Clinically significant neurological or psychiatric disorder.
• History of clinically significant head injury.
• Contraindications for transcranial direct current stimulation as assessed by standard screening form (e.g. cardiac pacemaker or other implanted devices, seizures, epilepsy, open head wound, etc.)
• Clinically significant neurological or comorbid psychiatric disorder.

Other

• Current harmful use of, or dependence on, psychoactive substances (excluding nicotine) in the opinion of the investigator
• Current harmful use of, or dependence on, psychoactive substances (excluding nicotine and caffeine) in the opinion of the investigator.
• Contraindications for MR scanning as assessed by SPMIC screening form and trained scanner operator (e.g. claustrophobia, pregnancy etc).
• Current harmful use of, or dependence on, psychoactive substances (excluding nicotine) in the opinion of the investigator.
• Lived experience where psychosis symptoms have not been directly experienced by the individual (e.g., support or carer role to someone else).

• Eligibility criteria for first episode psychosis group are as follows:
• Aged 18-55 years.
• Ability to understand and willing to give written informed consent.
• Fluent in English to be able to understand all cognitive task instructions and questionnaires.
• Current psychotic disorder of less than 5yrs total duration. Defined as meeting DSM-5 criteria consistent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder, or severe depression with psychosis.
• At least 8 weeks of stable treatment.
• Ability to travel to the University of Nottingham for in-person testing.
• Matched healthy control participants will be recruited from a local database of volunteers, from posters and online advertisements.
• Aged 18 - 55 years.
• Ability to understand and willing to give written informed consent.
• English as first language or fluent in English.
• Ability to travel to the University of Nottingham for in-person testing.
• Aged 18+ years.
• Ability to understand and willing to give written informed consent.
• Fluent in English to be able to understand and answer all questions.
• History of psychotic disorder defined as DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder, or severe depression with psychosis. No limit of time since first episode.
• At least 8 weeks of stable treatment.
• Ability to travel to the University of Nottingham for in-person testing.