This study is currently recruiting participants.
Number
11-M-0251
Sponsoring Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled Gender: Male & Female Min Age: 7 Years Max Age: 35 Years
Referral Letter Required
No
Population Exclusion(s)
None
Keywords
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI); Normal Development; Puberty; Natural History
Recruitment Keyword(s)
Healthy Volunteer; HV
Condition(s)
fMRI
Investigational Drug(s)
Investigational Device(s)
Intervention(s)
Supporting Site
National Institute of Mental Health
We propose to perform a longitudinal, naturalistic study examining changes in brain structure and function, behavior, and stress responsivity in boys and girls across the pubertal transition. Because the pubertal transition is defined by a complex series of physiologic events that emerge sequentially over several years and involve changes in multiple endocrine and growth systems, and because there is also considerable variability in the timing of these events reflecting the influence of both genetic and environmental factors, puberty cannot by delineated by age of the participants as has been done in most imaging and other neurobiological studies of adolescence. The present study will formally bridge this gap by defining pubertal events per se in participants.
Participants will include healthy boys and girls whose pubertal status will be assessed, and in whom endocrine, metabolic, and brain imaging measures will be evaluated at eight - ten month intervals from age eight years (pre-puberty) until age 17 years (post-puberty). Reproductive endocrine, metabolic, and physical measures will be employed to characterize the stage and duration of pubertal development. Outcome measures will be derived via multimodal neuroimaging techniques, cognitive/behavioral assessments, metabolic measurements, and evaluations of HPA axis function. Additionally, the impact of genetic variation on the developmental trajectory of these parameters (both reproductive and CNS) will be determined.
This cross-institute proposal will employ a multidisciplinary approach to evaluating the effects on CNS function of the process of puberty in both boys and girls. This work will not only serve to inform research on the mechanisms by which sexual dimorphisms in neuropsychiatric disorders develop, it will also have important implications for the prevention and treatment of these disorders.
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INCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 1: Child volunteers will qualify for inclusion if they meet the following criteria: - Good general health and normal IQ; A normal IQ will be determined by the scores on Test of Irregular Word Reading Efficiency (TIWRE) - Age 8 years; - Body Mass Index (kg/m^2) between the 15th and 85th percentiles for age and sex according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000 growth charts; - A normal tempo of growth as determined by skeletal age within +/- 1.64 standard deviations of chronologic age according to the Greulich and Pyle radiographic atlas (i.e., no evidence for precocious puberty or abnormal delay of maturation); Research criteria for determining bone age will be performed by the collaborating pediatric endocrinologist. This criterion is required only for the initial entry into this study and is not one of the inclusion criteria for subsequent visits; - No history of significant neurologic or cognitive disorders. Examples include neonatal anoxic encephalopathy, seizure disorders, autism, and most learning disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; - Able to provide assent. Parents will provide consent. EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 1: Child volunteers will be excluded for the following reasons: - Presence of any medical condition that increases risk for MRI (e.g., pacemaker, metallic foreign body in eye or other body part, dental braces); - Presence or history of medical conditions known to affect cerebral anatomy; - Children who are not pre-pubertal as indicated by the presence of Tanner stage 2 development (i.e., areolar development in girls and testicular volume > 3 cc in boys); - Individuals who have, or whose parent or guardians have, current substance abuse or a psychiatric disorder or any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede the ability to give informed consent or possibly hinder completion of the study; presence of any psychiatric disorder in the subject, sibling, or other first-degree relative; - Subjects who regularly use prescription medications (the use of over-the-counter medications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.); - For females who have reached menarche: Pregnancy, lactation, or inability or unwillingness to undergo pregnancy testing (a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to all MRI and X-ray procedures for girls who have had the onset of menses); - Current or past use of psychiatric medication; - I.Q. < 70. - NIMH employees and staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy. INCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 2: Child volunteers will qualify for inclusion if they meet the following criteria: - Good general health and normal IQ; A normal IQ will be determined by the scores on Test of Irregular Word Reading Efficiency (TIWRE) - Ages 12-13 years; - Body Mass Index (kg/m^2) between the 15th and 85th percentiles for age and sex according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000 growth charts; - A normal tempo of growth as determined by skeletal age within +/- 1.64 standard deviations of chronologic age according to the Greulich and Pyle radiographic atlas (i.e., no evidence for precocious puberty or abnormal delay of maturation); Research criteria for determining bone age will be performed by the collaborating pediatric endocrinologist. This criterion is required only for the initial entry into this study and is not one of the inclusion criteria for subsequent visits.; - No history of significant neurologic or cognitive disorders. Examples include neonatal anoxic encephalopathy, seizure disorders, autism, and most learning disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; - Able to provide assent. Parents will provide consent. EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 2: Child volunteers will be excluded for the following reasons: - Presence of any medical condition that increases risk for MRI (e.g., pacemaker, metallic foreign body in eye or other body part, dental braces); - Presence or history of medical conditions known to affect cerebral anatomy; - Individuals who have, or whose parent or guardians have, current substance abuse or a psychiatric disorder or any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede the ability to give informed consent or possibly hinder completion of the study; presence of any psychiatric disorder in the subject, sibling, or other first-degree relative; - Subjects who regularly use prescription medications (the use of over-the-counter medications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.); - For females who have reached menarche: Pregnancy, lactation, or inability or unwillingness to undergo pregnancy testing (a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to all MRI and X-ray procedures for girls who have had the onset of menses); - Current or past use of psychiatric medication; - I.Q. < 70 - (determined by the scores on Test of Irregular Word Reading Efficiency) [TIWRE] - NIMH employees and staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy. INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 3: Inclusion and exclusion criteria for sample 3 will be identical as those for sample 2 with the exception that children between the ages of 8 and 17 will be included. INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 4: Sample 4 participants will also be volunteering in Protocol #95-M-0150 Neurobiological Investigation of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Their Siblings, and/or Protocol #81-M-0126, The Evaluation of Women with Menstrually-Regulated Mood and Behavioral Disorders, in which they will also have signed consent and through which they will have been screened. INCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 4: - Ages of 25 to 35 years at the time of enrollment. -Each subject must have a level of understanding sufficient to agree to all required tests and examinations and sign an informed consent document. - No use of psychotropic substances in the last 3 months. - No psychiatric or severe chronic medical illness at the time of the study, and by history. EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 4: - Presence of impaired hearing. - Pregnant or currently breast feeding. (a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to MRI procedures in women) - Presence of a history head trauma with loss of consciousness in the last year or any evidence of functional impairment due to and persisting after head trauma. - Previous eye surgery with a prosthetic implant. -Participants with tattoos will be excluded if the tattoos are in a location on the body (eyes, lips, etc.) that could interfere with fMRI scans or contain a heavy metal content. - Presence of any non-organic implant or any other device such as: cardiac pacemaker, insulin infusion pump, implanted drug infusion device, cochlear, otologic, or ear implant, transdermal medication patch (Nitro), any metallic implants or objects, body piercing(s), bone/joint pin, screw, nail, plate, wire sutures or surgical staples, shunt. - Presence of cerebral or other aneurysm clips. - Presence of shrapnel or other metal imbedded in the body (such as from war wounds or accidents). - Previous employment in metal fields or with machines that may have left any metallic fragments in or near the eyes. - History of a severe accident in the past that may possibly have left metal in the body. - Psychological contraindications for MRI (e.g., suffer from claustrophobia); - Less than an 8th grade education or an IQ below 70 as determined by the scores on Test of Irregular Word Reading Efficiency [TIWRE] . -NIMH employees and staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy. INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 5: Inclusion and exclusion criteria for sample 5 will be identical as those for samples 1 and 2 (i.e., children will either be age 8-9 or between the ages of 12 and 13) with the exception that children with a tempo of growth that is considered abnormal as demonstrated by skeletal age greater than two standard deviations in advance of their chronologic age according to the Greulich and Pyle Radiographic Atlas will be included. These children will be matched for age, Tanner stage, race, ethnicity, and BMI with children currently enrolled in the longitudinal study.
Child volunteers will qualify for inclusion if they meet the following criteria:
- Good general health and normal IQ; A normal IQ will be determined by the scores on Test of Irregular Word Reading Efficiency (TIWRE)
- Age 8 years;
- Body Mass Index (kg/m^2) between the 15th and 85th percentiles for age and sex according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000 growth charts;
- A normal tempo of growth as determined by skeletal age within +/- 1.64 standard deviations of chronologic age according to the Greulich and Pyle radiographic atlas (i.e., no evidence for precocious puberty or abnormal delay of maturation); Research criteria for determining bone age will be performed by the collaborating pediatric endocrinologist. This criterion is required only for the initial entry into this study and is not one of the inclusion criteria for subsequent visits;
- No history of significant neurologic or cognitive disorders. Examples include neonatal anoxic encephalopathy, seizure disorders, autism, and most learning disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder;
- Able to provide assent. Parents will provide consent.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 1:
Child volunteers will be excluded for the following reasons:
- Presence of any medical condition that increases risk for MRI (e.g., pacemaker, metallic foreign body in eye or other body part, dental braces);
- Presence or history of medical conditions known to affect cerebral anatomy;
- Children who are not pre-pubertal as indicated by the presence of Tanner stage 2 development (i.e., areolar development in girls and testicular volume > 3 cc in boys);
- Individuals who have, or whose parent or guardians have, current substance abuse or a psychiatric disorder or any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede the ability to give informed consent or possibly hinder completion of the study; presence of any psychiatric disorder in the subject, sibling, or other first-degree relative;
- Subjects who regularly use prescription medications (the use of over-the-counter medications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.);
- For females who have reached menarche: Pregnancy, lactation, or inability or unwillingness to undergo pregnancy testing (a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to all MRI and X-ray procedures for girls who have had the onset of menses);
- Current or past use of psychiatric medication;
- I.Q. < 70.
- NIMH employees and staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy.
INCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 2:
- Ages 12-13 years;
- A normal tempo of growth as determined by skeletal age within +/- 1.64 standard deviations of chronologic age according to the Greulich and Pyle radiographic atlas (i.e., no evidence for precocious puberty or abnormal delay of maturation); Research criteria for determining bone age will be performed by the collaborating pediatric endocrinologist. This criterion is required only for the initial entry into this study and is not one of the inclusion criteria for subsequent visits.;
EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 2:
- I.Q. < 70 - (determined by the scores on Test of Irregular Word Reading Efficiency) [TIWRE]
INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 3:
Inclusion and exclusion criteria for sample 3 will be identical as those for sample 2 with the exception that children between the ages of 8 and 17 will be included.
INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 4:
Sample 4 participants will also be volunteering in Protocol #95-M-0150 Neurobiological Investigation of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Their Siblings, and/or Protocol #81-M-0126, The Evaluation of Women with Menstrually-Regulated Mood and Behavioral Disorders, in which they will also have signed consent and through which they will have been screened.
INCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 4:
- Ages of 25 to 35 years at the time of enrollment.
-Each subject must have a level of understanding sufficient to agree to all required tests and examinations and sign an informed consent document.
- No use of psychotropic substances in the last 3 months.
- No psychiatric or severe chronic medical illness at the time of the study, and by history.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 4:
- Presence of impaired hearing.
- Pregnant or currently breast feeding. (a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to MRI procedures in women)
- Presence of a history head trauma with loss of consciousness in the last year or any evidence of functional impairment due to and persisting after head trauma.
- Previous eye surgery with a prosthetic implant.
-Participants with tattoos will be excluded if the tattoos are in a location on the body (eyes, lips, etc.) that could interfere with fMRI scans or contain a heavy metal content.
- Presence of any non-organic implant or any other device such as: cardiac pacemaker, insulin infusion pump, implanted drug infusion device, cochlear, otologic, or ear implant, transdermal medication patch (Nitro), any metallic implants or objects, body piercing(s), bone/joint pin, screw, nail, plate, wire sutures or surgical staples, shunt.
- Presence of cerebral or other aneurysm clips.
- Presence of shrapnel or other metal imbedded in the body (such as from war wounds or accidents).
- Previous employment in metal fields or with machines that may have left any metallic fragments in or near the eyes.
- History of a severe accident in the past that may possibly have left metal in the body.
- Psychological contraindications for MRI (e.g., suffer from claustrophobia);
- Less than an 8th grade education or an IQ below 70 as determined by the scores on Test of Irregular Word Reading Efficiency [TIWRE] .
-NIMH employees and staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy.
INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA - SAMPLE 5:
Inclusion and exclusion criteria for sample 5 will be identical as those for samples 1 and 2 (i.e., children will either be age 8-9 or between the ages of 12 and 13) with the exception that children with a tempo of growth that is considered abnormal as demonstrated by skeletal age greater than two standard deviations in advance of their chronologic age according to the Greulich and Pyle Radiographic Atlas will be included. These children will be matched for age, Tanner stage, race, ethnicity, and BMI with children currently enrolled in the longitudinal study.
Principal Investigator
Referral Contact
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