Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42290157›Full record

Trial reportPsychological medicine2026

Pro-cognitive effects of 5-HT4 receptor agonism in individuals with remitted depression.

Angharad N de Cates, Sorcha Hamilton, Anutra Guru, Merethe Blandhol, Michael Colwell, Philip J Cowen, Meghan Simmons, Bailey Jones, Catherine J Harmer, Susannah E Murphy

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Psychological medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Angharad N de CatesInstitute for Mental Health, https://ror.org/03angcq70University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7848-1295
Sorcha HamiltonUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4702-5788
Anutra GuruUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Merethe BlandholUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9666-0078
Michael ColwellUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Philip J CowenUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Meghan SimmonsUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Bailey JonesUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Catherine J HarmerUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1609-8335
Susannah E MurphyUniversity Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8995-2099

Funding

Guarantors of BrainWellcome Trust 216430/Z/19/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCognitive impairment is a common and persistent feature of depression, yet it remains poorly understood and inadequately treated. Preclinical and human studies suggest that stimulating 5-HT

methodsFifty participants who were not currently depressed but had experienced at least two previous episodes of depression were randomized in a double-blind design either to prucalopride (2 mg daily, titrated from 1 mg) or to placebo for 7-10 days. Participants completed self-report questionnaires and a task battery at baseline and post-intervention assessing declarative memory, working memory, emotional processing, and executive function.

resultsCompared to placebo, prucalopride significantly improved word recall on an auditory verbal learning task and was associated with faster response times on a complex working memory task without loss of accuracy. It also improved the accurate recognition of rapidly presented facial expressions. Composite analysis of non-emotional tasks identified that the prucalopride group participants post-intervention were faster and more accurate than at baseline compared to those receiving placebo. Prucalopride had minimal effects on affective cognition, consistent with previous findings. Cognitive improvements were independent of baseline mood symptoms or self-reported cognitive difficulties.

conclusionsShort-term 5-HT

Indexed as

BenzofuransCognitionCognitive DysfunctionMajor Depressive DisorderSerotonin 5-HT4 Receptor AgonistsAdultCognitive EnhancementDouble-Blind MethodExecutive FunctionFemaleHumansMaleMemory, Short-TermMiddle AgedYoung AdultBenzofuransprucaloprideSerotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists5-HT4cognitionprocognitiveprucaloprideserotonin

Identifiers

PMID42290157
PMCPMC13280690

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.