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Behavioral Activation for Anhedonia
N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Christian A Webb, Ph.D.
Research Sponsored by Mclean Hospital
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial Must have
Be younger than 65 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up change from pre-treatment (baseline) to post-treatment (12 weeks)
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group
Summary
This trial will test a therapy called Behavioral Activation (BA) on adolescents who have trouble feeling pleasure due to depression. BA helps by encouraging them to do more activities they enjoy, which can improve their mood. The study will see how well this therapy works and what changes occur in the brain and behavior. Behavioral Activation (BA) is a well-established treatment for depression that focuses on increasing engagement in enjoyable and meaningful activities to improve mood.
Eligible Conditions
- Anhedonia
Timeline
Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~ change from pre-treatment (baseline) to post-treatment (12 weeks)
Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~change from pre-treatment (baseline) to post-treatment (12 weeks)
Treatment Details
Study Objectives
Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.Primary study objectives
Change in Anhedonic (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale; SHAPS) Symptoms
Change in Brain (Striatal and Medial PFC) Activation During a Monetary Reward Gambling Task
Change in Performance (Reward Learning) on the Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT) Computer Task
Awards & Highlights
No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.
Trial Design
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Anhedonic teens receiving Behavioral Activation (BA)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
12 weeks (1 50-min session per week) of Behavioral Activation for the anhedonic adolescents.
Behavioral Activation is a psychosocial treatment for depression focused on gradually re-engaging patients with sources of reinforcement and reward in their environment (e.g., increasing activites and interpersonal interactions). In contrast to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and as the name implies, Behavioral Activation focuses on behavioral strategies to improve mood and places little emphasis on cognitive restructuring techniques.
Group II: Non-anhedonic teens (not receiving BA)Active Control1 Intervention
A group of adolescents with no anhedonia were recruited
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Behavioral Activation
2013
Completed Phase 3
~2900
Find a Location
Who is running the clinical trial?
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)NIH
2,928 Previous Clinical Trials
2,744,939 Total Patients Enrolled
20 Trials studying Anhedonia
1,922 Patients Enrolled for Anhedonia
Mclean HospitalLead Sponsor
216 Previous Clinical Trials
21,793 Total Patients Enrolled
5 Trials studying Anhedonia
743 Patients Enrolled for Anhedonia
Christian A Webb, Ph.D.Principal InvestigatorMcLean Hospital & McLean Hospital
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Eligibility Criteria:
This trial includes the following eligibility criteria:- You have used cocaine or other stimulant drugs in the past.You have taken drugs that affect dopamine, such as methylphenidate.You have had a head injury that made you lose consciousness.You have a history of seizures.You have a serious or unstable medical condition like heart, liver, kidney, lung, hormone, brain, or blood problems.You have had a diagnosed mental health or substance-related issue according to the DSM-5.You are a healthy adolescent who is not taking any psychiatric medications.You have signs of low thyroid function based on tests or symptoms.You have a medical or neurological condition that could affect the brain blood flow measurements taken during the study.You have a positive pregnancy test.Adolescents who have thoughts of hurting themselves and cannot receive outpatient behavioral activation treatment. They will be referred to the right clinical care immediately.You are currently getting medicine or talking to a therapist for feeling no pleasure in things you normally enjoy.You are a teenager with a close family member who has a history of mental health issues.You are right-handed.Adolescents with signs of feeling very sad or down during the phone screening.You have certain severe mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe substance use disorder. If you have less severe anxiety conditions, it's okay if they are caused by anhedonia.Adolescents who have had depression for more than 2 years.If you don't feel pleasure in things you used to enjoy, you may be eligible. If you're a healthy control, you shouldn't have any problems feeling pleasure.You haven't taken certain medications for a specific period of time before joining the study.