At a glance
- What the study gets you
- Access to the study treatment being tested
- Type of study
- Interventional (receives a drug or procedure)
- Time in hospital
- In-person visits at study sites — visit count not specified by the sponsor
- Drug or intervention
- Entonox (drug), Medical Air (drug)
- How long the study runs
- Study runs about 15 months (dates as stated)
- About the drug or intervention
- Entonox — drug: 30 minute inhalation using demand valve and mouthpiece · Medical Air — drug: 30 minute inhalation using demand valve and mouthpiece
- Patient visit burden
- Not specified by the sponsor
- Type of study
- Testing a treatment
- Ages
- 18 Years to 40 Years
- Who
- All
- Number of participants
- 88
- Started
- 2024-07-10
- Last checked
- 2025-07
Plain English Summary
What is this study?
- • Testing a new treatment for depression
- • NA - 88 participants
- • The goal of this study is to uncover the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms of nitrous oxide, which may be relevant to its reported antidepressant effects
Who can take part?
- • Ages 18 Years to 40 Years
- • Diagnosed with depression
Where?
- • Oxford - Psychiatry Department
This is a simplified summary. Always discuss with your doctor before making any decisions.
About This Trial
The goal of this study is to uncover the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms of nitrous oxide, which may be relevant to its reported antidepressant effects. In particular, the study is designed to determine whether nitrous oxide changes the way in which healthy volunteers aged 18-40 years remember negative autobiographical memories. The main question the study aims to answer is: • Does nitrous oxide interfere with the emotional aspects of negative autobiographical memories? Other neuropsychological effects will also be assessed (e.g., emotional processing, emotional memory, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility). Researchers will compare ENTONOX (50% nitrous oxide: 50% oxygen) with medical air. Participants will: * Attend three research visits (screening, inhalation, follow-up) * Take part in a 30 minute inhalation session of ENTONOX or medical air * Complete a series of cognitive tasks * Finish a series of self-report questionnaires
More detail
Questions regarding the mechanisms of nitrous oxide and its effects on the brain and behaviour in the context of its reported antidepressant effects remain largely unanswered. Thus, in the present study, the investigators aim to elucidate the more general effects that nitrous oxide might have on a series of neurocognitive processes which may be relevant to the treatment of depression. Namely, the study will investigate: 1) reconsolidation of autobiographical memories, 2) measures of emotional processing and emotional memory, 3) response inhibition, 4) cognitive flexibility and 5) sleep stages.
How this trial compares with your answers
Answer 2 more questions to improve match
What we know so far
Still need:
- • Tell us your age for better matching
- • Tell us your sex for better matching
Preliminary match based on your answers. Full eligibility requires on-site assessment including medical history, physical exam, and lab tests. This does not guarantee enrolment.
Eligibility at a Glance
Key info
- Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
- Who can join: All genders
What the study is looking for
- ✓Aged 18-40 years
- ✓Good vision and hearing
- ✓Willing and able to give agreement to take part
- ✓Body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18-35kg/m2 (This is to ensure we exclude underweight individuals who might...
- ✓Sufficiently fluent in English to understand tasks
Who cannot take part
- ✗History of any mental health condition (covered in SCID assessment in screening procedures)
- ✗Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) requiring treatment with stimulant or other centrally-acting drugs
- ✗Regularly drink 14 or more units of alcohol a week
- ✗Any eye, throat or ear surgery or a medical procedure requiring intravenous injection or line into a vein in the...
- ✗A head injury causing concussion or unconsciousness in the past 6 months
See the full criteria
Where Is This Study? (1 UK site)
Psychiatry Department
Oxford OX3 7JX, United Kingdom