Effects of 28-day simvastatin administration on emotional processing, reward learning, working memory, and salivary cortisol in healthy participants at-risk for depression: OxSTEP, an online experimental medicine trial
Study results do not substantiate concerns regarding adverse neuropsychiatric events due to statins and support the safety of their prescribing in at-risk populations. Although other unmeasured cognitive processes may be involved, our null findings are also in line with more recent clinical evidence suggesting statins do not show antidepressant or pro-cognitive efficacy.
Authors
- Catherine J. Harmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1609-8335)
- Shona Waters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7554-0090)
- Philip J. Cowen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5518-6138)
- Amy Gillespie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4640-699X)
- Alice M. G. Quinton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5563-4893)
- Riccardo De Giorgi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5984-8696)
- Michael Colwell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7846-2879)
- Susannah E. Murphy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8995-2099)
Institutions
- King's College London (GB)
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Warneford Hospital (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Psychological Medicine
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291725001187
- Primary Topic
- Cardiac Health and Mental Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Medical Research Council