Neurofeedback to Treat Depression

NCT ID: NCT05169346

Last Updated: 2025-09-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

71 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-05-25

Study Completion Date

2025-06-13

Brief Summary

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This study tests the efficacy of a new psychotherapeutic strategy for reducing negative attention bias (and therefore depression severity) in participants with MDD (60 in R61 phase and 80 in R33 Phase). This real-time fMRI neurofeedback therapy uses cloud-based pattern classification to decode a patient's attentional state and dynamically modulate task stimuli (in a closed loop) based on this state.

Detailed Description

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In both the R61and R33 phases we will compare cloud based real time fMRI feedback with placebo (sham feedback) in reducing negative attention bias and depressive symptoms. This study will be the first dose-finding test of real-time fMRI effect on negative attention bias. Measures include: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID), Clinician-administered diagnostic exam, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Clinician-administered scale used to assess the severity of depression, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Self-report questionnaire used to measure types of anxiety and mood symptoms, Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (MASQ), Negative perseveration during a go/no-go task, Go/no-go task with overlaid face/scene stimuli; brain response triggers next stimulus, Negative gaze, Negative gaze collected in gaze data following each real time fMRI feedback session

Conditions

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MDD

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Active Neurofeedback

R61 Phase: Three training sessions. Each training session contains 32 minutes of active neurofeedback runs.

R33 Phase: Number of training sessions are contingent on R61 findings.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active Closed Loop Real Time fMRI Neurofeedback

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Active neurofeedback to target neural mechanisms underlying attentional bias in participants with major depressive discover (MDD)

Sham Neurofeedback

R61 Phase: Three training sessions. Each training session contains 32 minutes of sham (placebo) neurofeedback runs.

R33 Phase: Number of training sessions are contingent on R61 findings.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Closed Loop Real Time fMRI Neurofeedback

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sham (placebo) neurofeedback to target neural mechanisms underlying attentional bias in participants with major depressive discover (MDD)

Interventions

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Active Closed Loop Real Time fMRI Neurofeedback

Active neurofeedback to target neural mechanisms underlying attentional bias in participants with major depressive discover (MDD)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sham Closed Loop Real Time fMRI Neurofeedback

Sham (placebo) neurofeedback to target neural mechanisms underlying attentional bias in participants with major depressive discover (MDD)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* gender, inclusive

* adult aged 18 - 65 meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for MDD according to the Clinician-Administered MDD Scale for DSM-5 (unipolar depression or bipolar II depressed)
* scores at least a minimum score of 16 on Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
* normal cognition
* participants must be able to read and understand English
* participants must be able to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria

* pregnancy (female participants)

* outside age range
* MRI contraindications (medical implant, claustrophobia, etc.)
* use of psychoactive medication (including antidepressants) or currently in therapy
* neurological disorder or any condition that in the view of the PI could impact brain data, cause depression, require medication that could cause depressive symptoms, or otherwise result in participant being unfit for study (for example, co-morbid psychotic, neurological disorders, developmentally or cognitively disabled/impaired, active alcohol or drug abuse/dependence within the past 6 months).
* non-English speaking
* non-correctable vision loss
* refusal to provide informed consent
* representing an active suicide risk
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Yvette Sheline

McLure Professor of Radiology, Neurology and Psychiatry

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Yvette I Sheline, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pennsylvania

Locations

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Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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R61MH128492

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

849298

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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