Depression Research Study
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are conducting a clinical research study investigating how using neurofeedback to train the brain to ignore negative stimuli could improve depression.
Fast Facts
Experiencing a Depressive Episode for 2+ Weeks
Ages 18-65
Conducted in Greater Philadelpia
Metro Area
Study Background
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are conducting a clinical research study investigating how using neurofeedback to train the brain to ignore negative stimuli could improve depression.
This study uses neurofeedback (a non-invasive treatment) to train your brain to ignore negative stimuli. By learning to ignore negative stimuli, it’s predicted that your depression could improve.
This study involves being shown a series of emotionally affective pictures during fMRI with the goal of ignoring negative stimuli. We’ll collect signals from across the whole brain and train a machine-learning classifier to recognize how your brain focuses on these pictures. This allows the machine to alter the difficulty of the task in real-time as you perform it in response to your brain activity. We try to have the scanning sessions be completed within roughly a week to allow for an optimal treatment effect, however, some flexibility is possible based on your availability.
Study Background
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are conducting a clinical research study investigating how using neurofeedback to train the brain to ignore negative stimuli could improve depression.
This study uses neurofeedback (a non-invasive treatment) to train your brain to ignore negative stimuli. By learning to ignore negative stimuli, it’s predicted that your depression could improve.
This study involves being shown a series of emotionally affective pictures during fMRI with the goal of ignoring negative stimuli. We’ll collect signals from across the whole brain and train a machine-learning classifier to recognize how your brain focuses on these pictures. This allows the machine to alter the difficulty of the task in real-time as you perform it in response to your brain activity. We try to have the scanning sessions be completed within roughly a week to allow for an optimal treatment effect, however, some flexibility is possible based on your availability.
Additional Information
The goal of this research study is to see whether the treatment (realtime neurofeedback) is superior to placebo in teaching depressed individuals to disattenuate from negative visual stimuli, leading to a reduction in their depression severity.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must currently be experiencing multiple symptoms of a major depressive episode that has lasted at least 2 weeks
- Must be able to speak, understand, and write in English
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 65
- Must be able to provide written consent
- Gender inclusive
Exclusion Criteria:
- Must not have any metal in body (including dental/orthodontic implants) which is not compatible with an MRI and cannot be removed. Some exceptions can be made based on type of metal and location in body.
- Must not have current symptoms or history of psychosis or dementia/cognitive impairment
- Must not currently be experiencing manic symptoms
- Must not have current dependence on alcohol or substance use
- Must not be pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant
- Must not currently be on a regiment of any psychoactive medication or in any active therapy
- Must not participate in any kind of therapeutic intervention during course of study participation (talk, group, CBT, etc.). Active therapy may be put on hold during this time.
Over the course of this research study, participants will engage in a screening visit, 3 Neurofeedback sessions, and 2 follow-up visits over the phone.
The schedule of visits is as follows:
- Screening visit (2.5-3 hours)
- 1st Neurofeedback Session (3-3.5 hours)
- 2nd Neurofeedback Session (3-3.5 hours)
- 3rd Neurofeedback Session (3-3.5 hours)
- 1- week follow-up visit by phone (10 minutes)
- 1-month follow-up visit by phone (10 minutes)
There is no cost for you to enroll in this study.