Targeting inflammation to treat psychosis

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Status: This project is ongoing

The Psychosis Immune Mechanism Stratified Medicine (PIMS) trial is a proof-of-concept, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial. This means we will be looking at how people respond to the medication they are given during the trial, compared with those who are given a dummy drug (otherwise known as a placebo).

The aim of the study is to assess whether inflammation causes the negative symptoms of psychosis, such as lack of motivation or diminished ability to experience pleasure. We also want to see whether reducing inflammation with an anti-inflammatory drug can ease these symptoms in people with psychosis.

For this trial we will recruit 90 adult participants (between the ages of 18 and 40) from Bristol, Birmingham and Cambridge, who were diagnosed with their first psychotic episode within the previous three years. Of these, 30 will be treated with a single dose of tocilizumab (an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) and 30 with a dummy drug (normal saline).

Participants will complete questionnaires, blood tests, memory tests, and brain scans, and will be reimbursed for travel expenses. For more information on this study, please email: awp.pimsresearchtrial@nhs.net.

Partners

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust provides services for people with mental health needs, drug or alcohol dependency and people with learning disabilities. It covers Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire and provides a specialist service throughout the South West.
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
The Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for managing Birmingham Women’s Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust provides community, mental health and learning disability services in Cambridgeshire, England. The trust provides specialist services across the east of England and across Britain.
University Hospitals Cambridge NHS Foundation Trust
The University Hospitals Cambridge NHS Foundation Trust provides healthcare for people in the Cambridge area, in eastern England. It provides specialist services such as transplantation, treatment of rare cancers and neurological intensive care for a much wider area. It is located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and runs Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital.
University of Birmingham
For more than a century, the University of Birmingham has been pursuing and sharing knowledge through outstanding teaching and world-leading research. Each year it welcomes more than 30,000 from across the world. Its thriving student population enjoys a wide range of courses, and exceptional campus and research facilities.
University of Cambridge
Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the fourth-oldest university in the world. It is a globally diverse institution with students coming from more than 130 different countries. Its researchers collaborate with colleagues worldwide. The university has established partnerships in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe and it sits at the heart of one of the world’s largest technology clusters. Cambridge promotes the interface between academia and business, and has a global reputation for innovation.