Training Reward Responsiveness Through Virtual Reality
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phasePhase 2
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles
About this trial
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms.
VR-Reward Training is a novel intervention aimed at enhancing savoring of positive experiences among individuals with depression and low positive affect through guided imaginal recounting following immersion in positive VR experiences. The current study tests an enhanced version of this training using improved virtual reality technology.
Target enrollment is 80 participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomly assigned to 7 weeks of either Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) or Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT). Participants will complete in-person VR sessions, laboratory assessments, self-report questionnaires as part of the study. A subset of 8 participants randomly assigned to VR-RT will complete fMRI scans and EMA surveys.
The total length of participation is around 3 months.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
At least 18 years old
Fluent in written and spoken English
Score on the DASS-21 depression subscale must be ≥ 8
Score on the PANAS-P of 27 or lower
Disqualifiers
Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation, or organic brain damage
Substance use disorder in the past 6 months
Current use of psychotropic medications
Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT)
- Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)
Treatment groups
80 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
Source ClinicalTrials.gov