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N/A N=36 Randomized Quadruple-blind Treatment

Effect of Amygdala Neurofeedback on Depressive Symptoms and Processing Biases

Major Depressive Disorder

Enrolled (actual)
36
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Sep 2017
Primary outcome: Primary: Change From Baseline in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale at 2 Weeks — 23.5; 23.8; 11.9; 21.9 units on a scale — p=<0.001

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
N/A
Interventions
real-time fMRI neurofeedback: Amygdala (Behavioral); real-time fMRI neurofeedback: HIPS (Behavioral)
Age
Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.
Primary completion
Apr 2016

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Change From Baseline in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale at 2 Weeks
23.5; 23.8; 11.9; 21.9 <0.001 sig
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline Beck Depression Inventory at 2 Weeks
27.2; 26.6; 16.1; 24.3 0.03 sig
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression at 2 Weeks
19.4; 19.1; 10.4; 17.2 0.01 sig

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether upregulating the left amygdala during positive autobiographical memory recall via real time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback will lead to an improvement in clinician administered ratings of depressive symptoms. The investigators predict that patients with major depressive disorder receiving left amygdala neurofeedback will increase their amygdala response during positive autobiographical memory recall compared to those receiving control feedback from a region not involved in emotional processing and that this ability will be associated with clinically significant improvement.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder
  • right handed
  • adult aged 18-55
  • currently depressed

Exclusion Criteria

  • clinically significant or unstable cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, neurological, gastrointestinal illness or unstable medical disorder
  • met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol and/or substance abuse or substance dependence (other than nicotine) within 12 months prior to screening
  • endorse suicidal intent or have made a suicide attempt within the preceding three months
  • history of traumatic brain injury
  • inability to complete MRI scan due to claustrophobia or general MRI exclusions (e.g., shrapnel inside body)
  • current pregnancy or breast feeding
  • a primary language other than English
  • received psychotropic drugs for at least 3 weeks (8 weeks for fluoxetine) prior to scanning (Effective medications will not be discontinued for the purposes of the study)
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02079610). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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