Complete brain scans and vision tests to help understand serious mental illness

What is this trial?

Researchers are using a very powerful MRI machine (called 7T ultra-high-field MRI) combined with vision perception tests to better understand how serious mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder affect the brain. The goal is to find biological markers—measurable signs in brain imaging and behavior—that could help doctors diagnose these conditions more objectively and predict which treatments will work best for each person.

Currently, doctors diagnose serious mental illnesses mainly by asking about symptoms, which can be subjective and imprecise. This study exists because finding objective biological markers could transform how we diagnose and treat these conditions, making care more personalized and effective.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 45 years old
you have been diagnosed with major depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder (or you are a healthy person with no history of mental illness)
you do not have a history of brain injury, brain disease, or severe physical illness
you can tolerate being inside an MRI machine and do not have claustrophobia
you are able to provide written informed consent yourself or with help from a guardian

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of head injury, epilepsy, or other brain diseases
you have severe physical illnesses such as tumors or thyroid problems
you have metal implants in your body, such as a pacemaker or brain device
you are pregnant or unable to undergo an MRI scan
you have severe claustrophobia or are unable to tolerate enclosed spaces

What participation looks like

You will visit the hospital twice for MRI brain scans, with tests to look at how your brain responds to visual tasks. Between the two visits, you will complete some vision perception experiments and cognitive tests. The researchers will compare brain imaging and behavior before and after your regular treatment to see how the treatment changes your brain activity. The whole study takes several weeks to complete.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 2, 2026 · Not medical advice

Key details

Sponsor

Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University

Enrollment target

~320 participants

Started

November 2025

Primary completion

March 2027

Age range

18 Years – 45 Years

Sex

Female only

Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in April 2026.

Contact the research team directly

Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.

Central contact

Zheng Lin

Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University

Interested in joining?

Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.

Brain Imaging and Vision Tests for Serious Mental Health Conditions

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)