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N/A N=85 Randomized Single-blind Treatment

Treatment for Affect Dimensions

Depression · Anxiety

Enrolled (actual)
85
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Dec 2023
Primary outcome: Primary: Positive Affect Subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS-P) — 20.76; 29.42; 24.18; 19.42 score on a scale — p=.002

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
N/A
Interventions
Positive Affect Treatment (Behavioral); Negative Affect Treatment (Behavioral)
Age
Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
University of California, Los Angeles
Primary completion
Jun 2021

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Positive Affect Subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS-P)
20.76; 29.42; 24.18; 19.42; 26.88; 22.57 .002 sig
PRIMARY
Interviewer Anhedonia Ratings
7.66; 7.47; 6.11; 5.49; 4.91; 4.93 >.05
PRIMARY
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)
27.36; 24.51; 17.90; 17.92; 11.55; 13.00 .024 sig
SECONDARY
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)
18.40; 16.65; 14.53; 14.84; 11.19; 11.86
SECONDARY
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
0.17; 0.23; 0.18; 0.14; 0.18; 0.20
SECONDARY
Daily Activity/Social Interaction (Actigraph)
40.212; 34.634; 41.98; 41.44; 34.21; 46.92
SECONDARY
Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT)
0.41; 0.41; 0.43; 0.39; 0.51; 0.41 .922
SECONDARY
Monetary Incentive Task
-0.012; -0.017; 0.017; 0.013; -0.002; 0.004 .049 sig
SECONDARY
Behavioral Inhibition/Behavioral Activation (Reward Drive Subscale) (BAS-RD)
9.67; 9.42; 10.50; 10.14; 10.66; 10.66 .591
SECONDARY
Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale-Anticipation and Motivation Items
42.85; 49.16; 52.28; 52.46; 55.63; 55.66 .004 sig
SECONDARY
Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale-Consummatory Items
17.56; 19.12; 20.39; 20.51; 21.50; 21.59 .030 sig
SECONDARY
Modified Attentional Dot Probe Task-Disengagement Bias for Negative Stimuli
-43.43; 2.80; 16.70; -16.49; -3.07; -31.56 .029 sig
SECONDARY
Modified Attentional Dot Probe Task-Engagement Bias for Positive Stimuli
9.30; 3.29; -17.65; 2.62; -20.86; -22.51
SECONDARY
International Affective Picture System Task
0.0003; -0.0007; -0.0016; -0.0061; 0.0071; 0.0013 .494
SECONDARY
Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (Consummatory Subscale)
35.81; 37.12; 36.28; 37.49; 37.03; 37.97 .231
SECONDARY
Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT)
0.16; 0.15; 0.04; 0.19; 0.09; 0.03 .344
SECONDARY
Pavlovian Instrumental Transfer Task - Force (PIT-FORCE)
6.30; 4.91; 7.96; 6.72; 6.55; 6.57 .267
SECONDARY
Pavlovian Instrumental Transfer Task - Valence (PIT-VALENCE)
1.09; 0.62; 1.50; 0.73; 1.29; 0.44 .051

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and targets of Positive Affect Treatment, a psychotherapy specifically aimed at enhancing reward sensitivity in individuals with low positive affect (a core feature of anhedonia) in the context of depression or anxiety. Target enrollment is 68 male and female participants with low positive affect and depression or anxiety and impaired functioning, between the ages of 18 and 65 years, who will be randomized to either Positive Affect Treatment or Negative Affect Treatment (designed to reduce threat sensitivity). Participants will complete laboratory tests, psychiatric assessments, and self-report questionnaires as part of the study. The total length of participation is around 4 months.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • English-speaking
  • Low positive affect indexed by less than or equal to 24 on the positive affect subscale of the PANAS (i.e., PANAS-P); and scores of greater than or equal to 11 for depression, greater to or equal to 6 for anxiety, or greater to or equal to 10 for stress on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; and scores of greater than or equal to 5 on any Sheehan Disability Scale subscale.
  • Willingness to refrain from starting other psychosocial or pharmacological treatments until study completion.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Patient report of serious medical conditions - such as history of serious, uncontrolled medical illness, or instability (including significant cardio-pulmonary disease, organic brain syndrome, seizure disorder, cerebrovascular disease, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetes)
  • Active suicidal ideation
  • Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation, or organic brain damage
  • Substance abuse in the last 6 months or dependence within last 12 months.
  • 11 or more cigarettes per week or nicotine equivalent.
  • History of marijuana, cocaine or stimulant use 5-7 times/week or more before age 15 (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine)
  • Pregnancy
  • Bupropion, dopaminergic or neuroleptic medication use in the past 6 months
  • Heterocyclics and SSRIs are permitted if stabilized (3 months) and PRN benzodiazepines and beta-blockers are permitted but discouraged on laboratory assessment visits
  • Refusal of video/audio-taping
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03439748). 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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