Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback for Mild/Moderate Depression
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The aim of the study is to compare the effects of the self-regulation (neurofeedback) of the fMRI signal of the prefrontal cortex in depression to ones of more conventional non-pharmacological treatment, primarily, psychotherapy.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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N/A |
Detailed Description
The study was devoted to the neural, clinical, and psychological effects of the rt-fMRI neurofeedback for mild/moderate depression. Recruited unmedicated patients suffering from depression were assigned either to the fMRI neurofeedback (8 sessions of the left prefrontal cortex activity regulation) or to the active control group, i.e., a double dosage of cognitive-behavioral treatment or EEG neurofeedback (preliminary aborted). Depression symptoms were measured at baseline, at mid-treatment, and at post-treatment points. Some inventories of depression and related traits were also given. In the rt-fMRI group, self-regulation learning was also estimated by means of the fMRI signal change.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NFB) The duration of a session was approximately a half-hour. The course duration was 8 sessions. The preferred frequency was once a week, however, the schedule was flexibly adjusted for patients' convenience. |
Behavioral: Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NFB)
Real-time fMRI neurofeedback targeting control of the left medial prefrontal cortex. Participants continuously received visual feedback on the level of activity within the 2D region of interest corrected to the whole-slice brain volume activity. Up- and downregulation blocks were switched for better control.
|
| Active Comparator: Сognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) The duration of a session was approximately an hour/hour and a half. The course duration was 8 individual and 8 group sessions and included home assignments. The preferred frequency was twice a week, however, the schedule was flexibly adjusted for patients' convenience and for improving benefits of the treatment. |
Behavioral: Сognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
A combination of individual and small-group cognitive behavioral therapy by an experienced medical psychologist and a psychiatrist.
|
| Active Comparator: EEG neurofeedback (EEG NFB) The duration of a session was approximately a half-hour. The course duration was 16 sessions. The preferred frequency was twice a week, however, the schedule was flexibly adjusted for patients' convenience. Group was preliminarily aborted for lack of time and participants in order to assign more patients to the abovementioned arms. |
Behavioral: EEG neurofeedback (EEG NFB)
EEG neurofeedback targeting frontal alpha asymmetry index. Participants continuously received visual feedback on their frontal alpha asymmetry index. Up-regulation condition only was utilized.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in depression symptoms severity from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), scores ranging 0-54, higher scores indicate more severe depression
- Change in depression symptoms severity from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), scores ranging 0-54, higher scores indicate more severe depression
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change in subjective depression severity, test 1 from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), scores ranging 0-63, higher scores indicate more severe subjective depression
- Change in subjective depression severity, test 1 from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), scores ranging 0-63, higher scores indicate more severe subjective depression
- Change in subjective depression severity, test 2 from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSRDS), scores ranging 20-80, higher scores indicate more severe subjective depression
- Change in subjective depression severity, test 2 from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSRDS), scores ranging 20-80, higher scores indicate more severe subjective depression
- Change in the raw estimate of subjective depression severity from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), depression subscale, scores ranging 0-21, higher scores indicate more severe subjective depression
- Change in the raw estimate of subjective depression severity from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), depression subscale, scores ranging 0-21, higher scores indicate more severe subjective depression
Other Outcome Measures
- Change in adult anxious attachment from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Experience in Close Relationships (ECR), anxious attachment subscale, scores ranging 15-105, higher scores indicate more attachment disruption
- Change in adult anxious attachment from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Experience in Close Relationships (ECR), anxious attachment subscale, scores ranging 15-105, higher scores indicate more attachment disruption
- Change in adult avoidant attachment from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Experience in Close Relationships (ECR), avoidant attachment subscale, scores ranging 15-105, higher scores indicate more attachment disruption
- Change in adult avoidant attachment from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Experience in Close Relationships (ECR), avoidant attachment subscale, scores ranging 15-105, higher scores indicate more attachment disruption
- Change in rumination level from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Rumination Response Scale (RRS), total rumination score, scores ranging 22-88, higher scores indicate more rumination
- Change in rumination level from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Rumination Response Scale (RRS), total rumination score, scores ranging 22-88, higher scores indicate more rumination
- Change in alexithymia level from baseline to end-treatment [4.5 months on average]
Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26), scores ranging 26-130, higher scores indicate more alexithymia
- Change in alexithymia level from baseline to mid-treatment [2.5 months on average]
Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26), scores ranging 26-130, higher scores indicate more alexithymia
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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A diagnosis of unipolar depressive disorder on ICD-10 (F32, F33, F34.1)
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Sufficient self-regulation ability (verified with 3 sessions of ALAY EEG neurofeedback)
Exclusion Criteria:
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Serious somatic, mental, or substance abuse problem other than depression
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Depression secondary to other mental or somatic conditions
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Psychotic features in depression or comorbid psychotic disorder
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Serious suicide risk
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Seasonal depression
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Receiving or planning to receive psychotropic medications
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Receiving cardiovascular medications
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General MRI exclusions
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Current pregnancy
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IQ<70 (established with Raven's progressive matrices)
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Previous experience with neurofeedback
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal Reserch Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine | Novosibirsk | Russian Federation | 630117 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Russian Federation
Investigators
- Study Director: Mark B. Shtark, Ph.D., FRC FTM
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 16-15-00183