Clinical Trial Comparing fMRI Neurofeedback Plus Standard Care Versus Standard Care Alone for Adults with Depression

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the use of fMRI-neurofeedback combined with standard care compared to standard care alone in adults with depression. Previous studies suggest this approach has a good safety profile and may reduce symptoms, but a direct comparison has not yet been made. This trial aims to assess the impact of adding fMRI-neurofeedback on depressive symptom severity. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard care or standard care plus fMRI-neurofeedback training. The neurofeedback group will undergo five sessions, each about one hour long, including visual stimulation to identify brain areas linked to positive emotions and about 30 minutes of training to increase activity in these areas using real-time fMRI signals. Assessments occur before, immediately after, and six months following the intervention. During the study, participants will have their depression severity measured using the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology and other mental health scales. Researchers will evaluate symptoms at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. The study also monitors brain activity changes via fMRI in the neurofeedback group. The total participation period spans approximately six months, including follow-up evaluations to understand longer-term effects.

FMRI-neurofeedback in Depression