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NCT Number: NCT05865652

Evaluation of Membrane Phospholipid and Energy Metabolism in Subjects at High Risk of Psychotic Transition

The management of schizophrenia is a major public health issue, due to its particularly disabling psychotic symptoms and their onset at an early age, typically in adolescents or young adults.

The physiopathological hypothesis of an anomaly relating to the renewal of cell membranes and energy metabolism in schizophrenia was proposed as early as the 1930s. This is based on anomalies at certain times in the development of the balance between phosphomonesters, precursors of membrane phospholipids, and phosphodiesters, catabolites of membrane phospholipids. Alterations of these different balances sign neurodevelopmental disorders, and can be objectified by specific techniques such as phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SMR-31P). This is used in particular to characterize the energy metabolism of the brain and allows in vivo quantification of phosphorus metabolites.

The application of SMR-31P techniques to assess the metabolism of membrane phospholipids and cellular energy metabolism in subjects at high risk of psychotic transition could make it possible to objectify a difference between subjects subsequently suffering from a psychotic transition compared to those who do not suffer from it. Alterations in the metabolism of membrane phospholipids could thus represent a biomarker of psychotic transition. Secondarily, this approach would make it possible to provide elements as to the validity as a diagnosis of this category, which is very heterogeneous in its future.

Among the Ultra High Risk (UHR) group, subjects with a psychotic transition (UHR-T) are compared to subjects without this transition (UHR-NT) during the two years of follow-up.

The UHR group is compared to the control group.

At T0, UHR patients and healthy volunteers will perform brain MRI with Phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

UHR patients will then be reviewed:

* at T+1 year for a clinical assessment medical interview to assess the patient's functioning and the appearance of symptoms; * at T+2 years for the realization of a follow-up interview with passing of the scales CAARMS (Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental State) and SOFAS (scale of evaluation of the social and professional functioning) in order to determine if the subject belongs to the UHR-T or UHR-NT group.

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Key information

Age range

15 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

for the UHR group:

  • Patient between 15 and 25 years old
  • Patient fulfilling the UHR criteria objectified by the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental State scale (CAARMS) and by the social and professional functioning assessment scale (SOFAS) (the "Vulnerability" group is also taken into account, combining first-degree history and functional impact.)
  • Patient with no contraindication to performing a 7T MRI examination
  • Affiliated patient or beneficiary of a social security scheme.
  • Free, informed consent, written and signed by the participant, the investigator and the legal representative if applicable (at the latest on the day of inclusion and before any examination required by the research).

Inclusion criteria

for the Control group:

  • Subjects aged 15 to 25 years old,
  • healthy volunteer subject or subject to benefit from an imaging examination, not presenting the criteria of a mental health disorder objectified by a medical interview
  • Subject with no contraindication to performing a 7T MRI examination
  • Affiliated subject or beneficiary of a social security scheme.
  • Free, informed and written consent signed by the participant, the investigator and the legal representative if applicable (at the latest on the day of inclusion and before any examination required by the research).

Exclusion criteria

for the UHR group:

  • Patient not at risk or already in a psychotic pathological process according to DSM-5 criteria.
  • Patient already receiving antipsychotic treatment or whose background treatment was changed less than a month ago.
  • Patient presenting an absolute contraindication to 7T MRI such as: foreign bodies (intracranial clips, vascular magnetic clips, cardiac or neural pacemakers, stents, coils, implantable chamber, intracorporeal metallic splinters, cochlear implants, intracorporeal metallic foreign bodies, mechanical heart valve, implanted injection pump, non-removable piercings), pregnant woman, allergy to contrast products, moderate to severe renal insufficiency, breastfeeding, implanted contraception, tinnitus, claustrophobia and braces.

The relative contraindications are to be considered, namely: previous surgical interventions, medically implanted device, tattoo or permanent make-up.

Exclusion criteria

for the control group:

  • Subject presenting an absolute contraindication to 7T MRI such as: foreign bodies (intracranial clips, vascular magnetic clips, cardiac or neural pacemakers, stents, coils, implantable chamber, intracorporeal metallic fragments, cochlear implants, intracorporeal metallic foreign bodies, valve mechanical heart, implanted injection pump, non-removable piercings), pregnant woman, allergy to contrast products, moderate to severe renal insufficiency, breast-feeding, implanted contraception, tinnitus, claustrophobia and braces.

The relative contraindications are to be considered, namely: previous surgical interventions, medically implanted device, tattoo or permanent make-up.

Treatment and study plan

Cerebral MRI with Phosphorus 31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Diagnostic Test

Cerebral MRI with Phosphorus 31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Primary outcomes

  1. Difference of cellular inorganic phosphate between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of inorganic phosphate.

  2. Difference of cellular phosphocreatine between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of phosphocreatine.

  3. Difference of cellular Gamma ATP between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of Gamma ATP.

  4. Difference of cellular Alpha ATP between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of Alpha ATP.

  5. Difference of cellular beta ATP between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of beta ATP.

  6. Difference of intracellular pH between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of intracellular pH.

  7. Difference of membrane phosphodiester alterations between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of phosphodiester.

  8. Difference of membrane phosphomonoester alterations between UHR-T and UHR-NT patients.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of phosphomonoester.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Difference of cellular inorganic phosphate between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of inorganic phosphate.

  2. Difference of cellular phosphocreatine between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of phosphocreatine.

  3. Difference of cellular Gamma ATP between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of Gamma ATP.

  4. Difference of cellular Alpha ATP between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of Alpha ATP.

  5. Difference of cellular beta ATP between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of beta ATP.

  6. Difference of cellular intracellular pH between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of intracellular pH.

  7. Difference of membrane phosphodiester alterations between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of phosphodiester.

  8. Difference of membrane phosphomonoester alterations between UHR subjects and control subjects.

    Time frame: 2 years

    Levels measurements of phosphomonoester.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Richard HARY

CONTACT

[email protected]

0033 5 49 44 57 57

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Henri Laborit

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of Membrane Phospholipid Metabolism and Cellular Energy Metabolism in Subjects at High Risk of Psychotic Transition

Acronym: MR7T-UHR

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 19, 2023
Registry last updated
Jan 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.