Nasal insulin and brain dopamine in people with a first episode of psychosis
Tests nasal insulin's effect on brain dopamine in adults with first-episode psychosis.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Dopamine and Insulin in Psychosis
Key facts
- Where
- Vienna, AustriaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
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 18-40 with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder in their first psychotic episode, and for healthy volunteers. All take part in brain scans and an insulin nasal spray test.
- Age
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Disease stage
- Patients: schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder (DSM-5), first psychotic episode, with a PANSS score of at least 55 and high scores on psychosis items. Healthy volunteers can also join.
- Earlier treatment
- Patients cannot have had oral antipsychotic treatment for more than 2 weeks, or any antipsychotic depot treatment.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Current substance use disorder or regular drug abuse (except nicotine and caffeine)
- Severe or unstable medical or neurological illness
- Healthy volunteers: any psychiatric disorder, or schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in a close family member
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 40 years old?
Source: NCT07252752, who can take part
Where in Austria
- Medical University of ViennaVienna, AustriaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Medical University of Vienna
- Trial code
- NCT07252752
- Record updated
- 28 November 2025
- Original description
Patients with schizophrenia have a high risk of developing metabolic disorders and current evidence points to an overlap in mechanisms underlying psychiatric symptoms and metabolic disturbances. The main goal of this study is to investigate effects of brain insulin on dopamine signaling and energy metabolism in patients with schizophrenia experiencing their first psychotic episode (FEP). To this end, patients with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers will undergo two [11C]-(+)-PHNO positron emission (PET) scans to measure the changes in dopamine receptor availability after nasally applied insulin, as well as single proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to assess the impact of intranasal insulin on levels of glucose and glutamate in the hippocampus.Read full original descriptionShow less
Dopamine and Insulin in Psychosis: Imaging the Effects of Intranasal Insulin on Dopamine Transmission
Patients with schizophrenia have a high risk of developing metabolic disorders and current evidence points to an overlap in mechanisms underlying psychiatric symptoms and metabolic disturbances. The main goal of this study is to investigate effects of brain insulin on dopamine signaling and energy metabolism in patients with schizophrenia experiencing their first psychotic episode (FEP). To this end, patients with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers will undergo two [11C]-(+)-PHNO positron emission (PET) scans to measure the changes in dopamine receptor availability after nasally applied insulin, as well as single proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to assess the impact of intranasal insulin on levels of glucose and glutamate in the hippocampus.
Inclusion: All participants; age 18-40; Body mass index (BMI) range 18-25; good general health according to physical examination and medical history; absence of relevant abnormalities in laboratory screening, electrocardiogram (ECG) or vital signs; no regular use of drugs of abuse or alcohol based on history and urine drug screen; Patients only; diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder according to DSM-5; ability to give informed consent; minimum Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score of 55 with >3 on at least two or >4 on one PANSS psychosis item.
Exclusion: if participation in this study would exceed annual radiation dose limits (30mSv); Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in first degree family members; Patients only; ● Previous oral antipsychotic treatment for more than 2 weeks or previous treatment with antipsychotic depot preparation; established diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes; current substance use disorder or regular recreational drug abuse (except nicotine and caffeine); history of head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness of >1min or requiring medical attention; Psychiatric disorder according to Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.); severe or unstable medical or neurological illness or clinically significant abnormality on screening laboratory studies or ECG; All participants; pregnancy or breastfeeding; presence of MRI exclusion criteria; clinically established diagnosis of intellectual disability; Healthy volunteers only.