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Neurofeedback to Treat Depression - 2
Reducing Neural Perseveration Through Closed Loop Real Time fMRI Neurofeedback to Alleviate Depressive Symptoms
Who can join
Ages 18 to 65 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Gender, inclusive * Adult aged 18 - 65 * Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for MDD according to the Clinician-Administered MDD Scale for DSM-5 (unipolar depression or bipolar II depressed) * Scores at least a minimum score of 16 on Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) * Normal cognition * Participants must be able to read and understand English * Participants must be able to provide consent Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy (female participants) * Outside age range * MRI contraindications (medical implant, claustrophobia, etc.) * Use of psychoactive medication (including antidepressants) or currently in therapy * Neurological disorder or any condition that in the view of the PI could impact brain data, cause depression, require medication that could cause depressive symptoms, or otherwise result in participant being unfit for study (for example, co-morbid psychotic, neurological disorders, developmentally or cognitively disabled/impaired, active alcohol or drug abuse/dependence within the past 6 months). * Non-English speaking * Non-correctable vision loss * Refusal to provide informed consent * representing an active suicide risk
About the study
This study tests the efficacy of a new psychotherapeutic strategy for reducing negative attention bias (and therefore depression severity) in participants with MDD. This real-time fMRI neurofeedback therapy uses cloud-based pattern classification to decode a patient's attentional state and dynamically modulate task stimuli (in a closed loop) based on this state.
What is being tested
- Active Closed Loop Real Time fMRI Neurofeedback (behavioral)
- Sham Closed Loop Real Time fMRI Neurofeedback (behavioral)
Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Participants: 80 · Started: Nov 21, 2025
Contact the study team
- Yvette Sheline, M.D. · Phone: (215) 746-2637
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07159061
Locations in the U.S.
| Pennsylvania | Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress, Philadelphia |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.