Training Reward Responsiveness Through Virtual Reality

Conditions

• Depression
• Positive Affect

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) — BEHAVIORAL
  Participants will complete verbal recounting (present-tense, field perspective, positive details) and guided imaginal recounting of positive details for rewarding VR experiences and positive autobiographical memories.
• Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) — BEHAVIORAL
  Participants will complete verbal recounting (past-tense, observer perspective, objective details) and guided imaginal recounting of neutral details for neutral VR experiences and neutral non-personal stories

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

Start date

Jul 8, 2025

Status verified

Oct 2025

Primary completion

Jun 30, 2027

Completion

Jun 30, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

80 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT)
  13 sessions of positive VR immersion and positive memory specificity training exercises designed to savor rewarding features of immersion followed by memory specificity training exercises to savor rewarding features of autobiographical memory
• Active Comparator: Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)
  13 sessions of neutral VR immersion and neutral memory specificity training exercises, designed to train memory of objective non-emotional stimuli followed by memory exercises to neutral non-personal stories

Primary Outcome Measure

The Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire - Anhedonic Depression Subscale (MASQ-AD) [ Time Frame: Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12). ]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Los Angeles, CA

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