RecruitingEARLY_PHASE1INTERVENTIONAL

Losartan and Social Processing

This study is exploring whether a single dose of Losartan, a medicine sometimes used for blood pressure, changes how healthy people understand social cues and situations. Researchers believe that certain body systems, including the one Losartan affects, might play a role in how we deal with social interactions and emotions. They will compare Losartan to a dummy pill (placebo) in healthy volunteers. Participants will complete computer tasks that look at social approach, decision-making, and how they respond to feeling left out. The aim is to learn more about the brain's role in social understanding, which could help in the future for conditions where people struggle with social interactions.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Enrolment target

Start

19 Aug 2024

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2025

Social Cognition

What is this study about?

This research study is trying to understand if a common blood pressure medicine called Losartan can change how healthy people deal with social situations. Scientists have been looking at a system in the body (called the renin-angiotensin system, or RAS) that Losartan affects. While we know this system is involved in things like blood pressure, there's growing evidence it might also play a part in how we react to stressful events or learn from bad experiences. The big question for this study is whether it also influences our social skills and understanding.

Previous small studies have hinted that Losartan might make people less sensitive to negative social experiences. If this is true, it could be a really important discovery because many mental health conditions involve difficulties with social interactions. This study aims to find out more by giving volunteers either Losartan or a dummy pill (placebo) and then asking them to do some computer games that test different aspects of social thinking.

By carefully observing how people respond to these tasks after taking the study medicine, researchers hope to get a clearer picture of how the body's RAS system influences social processing. This knowledge could eventually lead to new ways of helping people who struggle with social understanding as part of conditions that affect their emotions or mental well-being.

Key takeaways

This study explores how a blood pressure medicine, Losartan, affects social thinking.
It aims to understand brain processes behind social interactions.
Healthy volunteers (18-50) will participate.
You'll take either Losartan or a dummy pill.
Computer tasks will assess social understanding and reactions.
Results could help people with social difficulties in the future.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a healthy volunteer between 18 and 50 years old. You should be able to understand and speak English well enough to follow instructions and complete questionnaires. It's important that you don't smoke heavily (no more than 5 cigarettes a day or less than 50 vape puffs) and your body mass index (BMI) should be between 18 and 30.

There are several reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you have a current or past severe mental health condition like psychosis or bipolar disorder, or a severe addiction problem, you unfortunately won't be eligible. Also, if a close family member has a severe mental illness, you can't take part. We also can't include you if you've recently taken certain brain medicines, or if you're currently taking blood pressure or heart medication.

Other health conditions, such as kidney problems, very low blood pressure, a history of epilepsy, or any other serious health issues (like problems with your heart, lungs, or liver) would prevent you from participating. For women, it's important not to be pregnant. This is to make sure the study is safe for everyone involved and that the results are as clear as possible.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 50 years old?
Do you currently have good physical and mental health?
Are you able to comfortably understand and speak English?
Are you currently taking any regular medication for blood pressure, heart conditions, or brain-related issues?
Do you smoke less than 5 cigarettes a day (or vape less than 50 puffs)?
Are you, or could you be, pregnant (if you are a woman)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll visit the study centre once. You'll be given either a single dose of Losartan (50mg) or a dummy pill (placebo); you and the study team won't know which one you've received. After taking the tablet, there will be a one-hour waiting period. During this time, you might be asked to rest quietly. Following the waiting period, you'll complete a series of computer-based tasks for about an hour. These tasks are designed to look at different aspects of your social understanding and reactions. There's no long-term follow-up; your participation will be completed on the day of your visit. The total time for your involvement, including resting and tasks, will be a few hours on that single day.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer the benefit of contributing to new scientific knowledge about how the brain processes social information, which might eventually help people with certain emotional or mental health conditions. While Losartan is generally well-tolerated, it can have side effects like dizziness, low blood pressure, or a headache, especially if you're not used to it. The dummy pill (placebo) has no active medicine, so it shouldn't cause side effects. You are free to stop participating at any time during the study without giving a reason, and this will not affect your medical care in any way.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Warneford Hospital
Verified postcode
Oxford, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is Losartan?

Losartan is a medicine primarily used to treat high blood pressure, but researchers are also looking at its other effects on the body.

What is a 'dummy pill' (placebo)?

A dummy pill contains no active medicine, but looks identical to the real medicine. It helps researchers understand if any effects are due to the medicine itself or other factors.

Will I know if I'm taking Losartan or the dummy pill?

No, this is a 'double-blind' study, meaning neither you nor the research team will know what you've been given until after the study is over.

What kind of 'social computer tasks' will I do?

You'll play games that involve judging facial expressions, making decisions about trust, and seeing how you react to scenarios where you might feel left out by others.

How long will I be at the study centre?

Your participation will take a few hours on a single day, including a waiting period after taking the tablet and then completing the computer tasks.

How to find out more

Andrea Reinecke, PhD

andrea.reinecke@psych.ox.ac.uk 01865 618320 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.