RecruitingEarly Phase 1NCT07017023

Combined Blood Pressure Medication and Activity Scheduling for Low Mood

Cognitive Effects of Losartan-augmented Behavioural Activation in Anhedonia

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Enrollment

76 participants

Start Date

Jul 8, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Mood Emotional Processing

Summary

This study explores the effects of 7-day losartan (50mg) versus placebo with brief behavioural activation on emotional processing in young volunteers low in positive mood

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 65 Years

Inclusion Criteria6

Willing and able to provide informed consent
Aged 18-65 years
Self-reported low levels of positive mood
Sufficient written and spoken English skills to understand study procedures
Normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
Access to a computer and reliable internet connection

Exclusion Criteria23

Antidepressant treatment or medication in last three months
Currently receiving cognitive-behavioural therapy with behavioural activation
History of psychosis or bipolar disorder
History of substance dependence
Use of illegal drugs in last 3 months
First-degree relative with history of psychosis or bipolar disorder
Current or past hospitalisation for mental health reasons
BDI-II score \>30
Judged to be currently at clinical risk of suicide
Past suicide attempt
CNS-medication last 6 weeks (including in another study)
Severely underweight or overweight in a manner that renders them unsuitable for the study in the opinion of the study medic
Current blood pressure or other heart medication
Diagnosis of intravascular fluid depletion or dehydration
History of angioedema
Impaired kidney function (based on self-report)
Very low blood pressure following established definitions (at least three consecutive measurements of blood pressure under standardised conditions where either the systolic or the diastolic blood pressure or both are below 90/60 mmHg (in accordance with established standard definitions: https://www.nhs.uk/cond...-pressure-hypotension/)
Current diagnosis of a developmental disorder (e.g. ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, severe learning disability) according to self-report, where in the opinion of the study team such difficulties would likely interfere with compliance or task performance
Current diagnosis of a neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy, MS) according to self-report
Lifetime history of systemic infection, or clinically significant hepatic, cardiac, obstructive respiratory, renal, cerebrovascular, metabolic, endocrine or pulmonary disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may put the participant at risk when participating, or may influence compliance or task performance
Pregnancy (urine pregnancy test during Baseline Visit), breast feeding or plans to become pregnant during study participation
Heavy use of cigarettes (smoke \> 20 cigarettes per day)
Severe lactose intolerance (due to losartan containing some lactose monohydrate)