Investigating the Impacts of Early Life Experience on the Brain & Behaviour
Recruiting · NCT06823492 · Observational (researchers observe without assigning treatment) · Lead sponsor: University of Manchester
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov →What this trial is about
The aim of this study is to learn more about how early life experience influences the brain, behaviour, and the immune system later in life. This will help improve understanding of why certain early life experiences (e.g., adoption, stress and parental separation) can cause difficulties for some people when they are adults. The long-term goal of this research is to develop tools that could identify young people who are vulnerable to developing future problems, this will ensure people get the help that they need at the right time for them. This study will use psychological assessment, online games, brain imaging and blood sampling to help improve our understanding of how and why early life experience can influence mental health, cognition, brain development and the immune system later in life.
Who can take part
Inclusion criteria
- Age 18-24
- Reside in Greater Manchester
- You are not enrolled on a university degree course and do not hold a university degree qualification
- Lived with one or both birth parents throughout childhood.
- Able to travel to the University of Manchester
- Able to understand the study information and participate in the assessment procedures described below (independently or with reading support from a researcher, friend or family member)
- Able to read text on a computer screen (using glasses or contact lenses if required)
- To sign up for this study one or more of the following statements should apply to you:
- I am not currently in education employment or training, or I am unemployed.
- I receive benefits from the Government e.g., housing benefits, universal credit, personal independent payment (PIP), disability benefit, job seekers allowance.
- I am currently struggling due mental health problems or neurodiversity (e.g., depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, eating disorder)
Exclusion criteria
- You were looked after by the local authority (e.g., foster, kinship care or residential children's home) or adopted during childhood.
- Any experience of childhood trauma (including neglect, physical/verbal abuse, sexual abuse or exposure to domestic violence).
- Your family required input from social services due to child protection concerns.
- You are experiencing symptoms of and have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).
Where it is running
1 location listed.
- Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of Manchester - Manchester, United Kingdom