Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical efficacy of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf) training to increase the amygdala's response to positive autobiographical memories in patients with depression who are considered treatment-resistant


Clinical Trial Description

Up to two-thirds of patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) will not respond to standard pharmacological and psychological interventions and will be considered treatment resistant (TR-MDD). Decreased reactivity to positive stimuli, indexed by low amygdala reactivity to positive autobiographical memory recall, may be a causal mechanism interfering with recovery from TR-MDD. Previous work in our lab suggests that individuals who do respond to antidepressant medications show increased amygdala activity that is indistinguishable from controls relative to baseline, while TR-MDD individuals fail to show this increase in amygdala activity. Furthermore, the investigators have found that MDD participants (more generally, not specifically TR- MDD) are indeed able to increase their amygdala response during positive memory recall via real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf) training, and that this increase is associated with large and rapid reductions in depressive symptoms. Here, the investigators propose to evaluate whether rtfMRI-nf training to increase the amygdala response to positive memories may serve as an intervention for TR-MDD. 100 TR-MDD individuals will be randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive 5 amygdala rtfMRI-nf or 5 control rtfMRI-nf sessions where they are trained to regulate a parietal region putatively not involved in emotional processing or MDD. The investigators will assess changes in amygdala activity, severity of clinical symptoms, and autobiographical memory deficits. Success will suggest a new non- pharmacological, non-invasive intervention for a traditionally treatment-resistant population of MDD individuals. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03428828
Study type Interventional
Source University of Pittsburgh
Contact Scott Barb
Phone 412-648-6809
Email barbsm3@upmc.edu
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date October 22, 2018
Completion date March 31, 2025

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT04124341 - PCS in Severe Treatment Resistant Depression N/A
Recruiting NCT03887715 - A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression N/A
Completed NCT04727229 - Stellate Ganglion Block for Major Depressive Disorder. Phase 4
Completed NCT04634669 - Open-Label Safety Study of AXS-05 in Subjects With TRD (EVOLVE) Phase 2
Not yet recruiting NCT05921929 - First-In-Human (FIH), Single Ascending Dose (SAD) Study of FluoroEthylNorMemantine (FENM) Phase 1
Withdrawn NCT03175887 - Investigational TMS Treatment for Depression N/A
Completed NCT03134066 - Neurocognitive Features of Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression
Active, not recruiting NCT01984710 - Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment Resistant Depression With the Medtronic Activa PC+S N/A
Completed NCT01935115 - Comparing Ketamine and Propofol Anesthesia for Electroconvulsive Therapy Phase 4
Terminated NCT01687478 - A Study of Olanzapine and Fluoxetine for Treatment-resistant Depression Phase 3
Completed NCT00531726 - Berlin Deep Brain Stimulation Depression Study N/A
Recruiting NCT05870540 - BPL-003 Efficacy and Safety in Treatment Resistant Depression Phase 2
Recruiting NCT04041479 - Biomarker-guided rTMS for Treatment Resistant Depression Phase 3
Recruiting NCT04959253 - Psilocybin in Depression Resistant to Standard Treatments Phase 2
Completed NCT04856124 - Intranasal Esketamine to Maintain the Antidepressant Response to IV Racemic Ketamine
Recruiting NCT03272698 - ECT With Ketamine Anesthesia vs High Intensity Ketamine With ECT Rescue for Treatment-Resistant Depression Phase 4
Active, not recruiting NCT04451135 - CET- REM (Correlating ECT Response to EEG Markers) N/A
Completed NCT03288675 - Stepped Care aiTBS 2 Depression Study (Ghent) N/A
Recruiting NCT06138691 - KET-RO Plus RO DBT for Treatment Resistant Depression Phase 1
Terminated NCT02675556 - Allogeneic Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) Infusion in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression Phase 1