Neurofeedback for Internet Gaming Addiction

NCT ID: NCT06063642

Last Updated: 2024-07-30

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

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-10-15

Study Completion Date

2024-03-01

Brief Summary

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The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neurofeedback in alleviating internet gaming disorder (IGD) symptoms by training individuals with such symptoms to down-regulate the activity in their reward-processing-related midbrain regions.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Internet Gaming Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Eligible candidates will be randomly assigned to either receive the experimental feedback intervention or sham feedback intervention.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
All participants will be blind to the intervention group assignment until they complete the entire study procedure. An outcome assessor who is blind to this assignment will collect the primary outcome measurement data.

Study Groups

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Experimental neurofeedback intervention

In an approximately 30-minute training session, participants receive activity feedback from a midbrain region involved in reward processing and gaming addiction. Feedback will be presented in the form of a thermometer/bar in the middle of the screen and updated every two seconds. They will be trained to down-regulate the activity in this region with the help of this feedback using cognitive strategies. This down-regulation training is believed to be beneficial to addictive behaviors by the investigators.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Neurofeedback training

Intervention Type DEVICE

Neurofeedback training is a type of non-invasive brain modulation technique that enables individuals to self-regulate brain activity patterns by providing them feedback on specific activity measures. Effective self-regulation is often linked to changes in cognition, behavior, and clinical symptoms.

Sham feedback intervention

In an approximately 30-minute training session, participants receive activity feedback from a brain region irrelevant to reward processing or gaming addictive behavior. The feedback presentation form and task instructions will be the same as for the experimental group. Based on the functional role of the feedback region, the investigators do not believe this feedback training will change the addictive behaviors of the participants who receive this intervention.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham feedback training

Intervention Type DEVICE

A controlled form of neurofeedback training that provides feedback irrelevant to the targeted mental process.

Interventions

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Neurofeedback training

Neurofeedback training is a type of non-invasive brain modulation technique that enables individuals to self-regulate brain activity patterns by providing them feedback on specific activity measures. Effective self-regulation is often linked to changes in cognition, behavior, and clinical symptoms.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham feedback training

A controlled form of neurofeedback training that provides feedback irrelevant to the targeted mental process.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Meet at least five of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for IGD and score 38 or above on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT)
* First language is Chinese (Mandarin)
* Right-handed
* Have played the mobile game "King of Glory" for more than 3 years
* Ability to give informed consent
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion Criteria

* Any primary diagnosis of a current psychological or neurological disorder
* Any history of psychological or neurological disorder
* Any MRI contraindication
* Currently on a psychotropic medication
* Any history of substance dependence
* Any history of brain injury or surgery
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

28 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Macau

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Zhen Yuan, Ph.D

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Macau

Locations

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Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau

Taipa, , Macau

Site Status

Countries

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Macau

References

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Gu A, Chan CL, Xu X, Dexter JP, Becker B, Zhao Z. Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Modulation of Dopaminergic Midbrain Activity in Young Adults With Elevated Internet Gaming Disorder Risk: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 29;27:e64687. doi: 10.2196/64687.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39879613 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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BSERE23-APP004-ICI

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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