Clinical Research Directory

Neurostructural and Biochemical Signatures of Tobacco Smoking in Mood Disorders

Sponsor: Assiut University

Summary

Tobacco smoking is significantly more common among individuals with mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder, compared to the general population. Chronic smoking in these conditions is often linked to more severe symptoms, frequent episodes, and reduced overall quality of life. However, the biological mechanisms linking tobacco smoking to brain alterations and clinical outcomes in mood disorders remain incompletely understood. The primary purpose of this study is to examine whether chronic tobacco cigarette smoking is associated with alterations in brain structure, specifically regional brain volumes including the hippocampus and insula, and circulating biochemical markers of neuronal injury (neurofilament light chain \[NfL\]) and neurobiological pathways (tryptophan and kynurenic acid). The study will enroll 240 male participants aged 18 to 45 years across six equal groups: 1. Major depressive disorder (in remission) who are current smokers 2. Major depressive disorder (in remission) who are lifetime never-smokers 3. Bipolar disorder who are current smokers 4. Bipolar disorder (in remission) who are lifetime never-smokers 5. Healthy controls who are current smokers 6. Healthy controls who are lifetime never-smokers Participants will take part in a single study visit involving: * Clinical assessments and psychiatric rating scales evaluating mood symptoms, cognition, personality traits, and smoking history. * Routine physical and vital sign measurements. * A fasting morning blood draw to evaluate serum biomarkers (NfL, tryptophan, kynurenic acid) and confirm tobacco exposure via serum cotinine. * A structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to measure regional brain volumes.

Official title: Neurostructural and Biochemical Signatures of Tobacco Smoking in Mood Disorders: A Case-Control Study

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