NCT07017023

Combined Blood Pressure Medication and Activity Scheduling for Low Mood

Cognitive Effects of Losartan-augmented Behavioural Activation in Anhedonia

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 76 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Oxford · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

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

Detailed description

Behavioural Activation (BA) is a first-line treatment for depression that aims to re-engage patients with rewarding activities, to improve mood. However, patients with low levels of positive mood respond less well to BA than others. Neuroscience has identified deficits in the processing of positive stimuli in this group of people, using cognitive-psychological computer tasks and brain imaging. Losartan, a licensed medication targeting the renin-angiotensin system, has recently been found to improve the processing of positive stimuli in healthy volunteers. Combining losartan with BA may improve treatment response in people with low positive mood, by improving positive information processing. This study will test this hypothesis. In a double-blind randomised trial, 76 participants with low positive mood will receive 7-day behavioural activation (BA) with daily losartan (50mg) or placebo. Before and after the intervention, they will complete computer tasks measuring processing of positive and negative information.

Conditions

• Emotional Processing
• Mood

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Losartan with BA	7-day losartan (Cozaar, 50mg; oral tablet) with 7-day BA
OTHER	Placebo with BA	7-day placebo (oral; microcellulose in identical capsules) with 7-day BA

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-07-08
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2025-06-12
• Last updated: 2025-07-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom