12/10/2022
After publishing our previous neurofeedback trial, we are now embarking on a new neurofeedback trial in depression, again focussing on self-blame - please see Alex Nagle's post who is undertaking his PhD in Brighton, I am a co-supervisor. The project is led by Drs James Stone and Alessandro Colasanti in Brighton.
Would you like to take part in a study exploring a possible new treatment for depression?
Complete the online pre-screening questionnaire here --> https://universityofsussex.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6D9B50oS3KBw3jM
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WHAT IS THE STUDY ABOUT?
Depression is a debilitating condition that is often considered to be the most common cause of disability in the world. We have previously identified that feelings of low self-worth are a central feature of depression. Unfortunately, many current treatments do not address low self-worth specifically, and this might result in patients not responding as well as they could. Therefore, it would be beneficial to further investigate which areas of the brain are responsible for regulating excessive self-blaming emotions, in order to develop better therapies and tools for managing the disorder.
In this study, we aim to use a brain-scanning technique called ‘fMRI neurofeedback’ to try to change the brain activity of depressed individuals in these identified areas towards a healthier pattern. We will also ask participants to complete some clinical / psychological questionnaires and assessments.
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WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO DO?
Upon completing an initial electronic / telephone consultation, you will be invited to the University of Sussex for three separate visits, each roughly two weeks apart. During Visit 1, you will undergo further screening assessments to confirm eligibility. Following this, we will collect information about your clinical and psychological symptoms through questionnaires and interviews. Before Visit 2, you will have been allocated into an Intervention A or Intervention B group (without your knowing). At Visit 2, you will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan with neurofeedback. We do not know which neurofeedback intervention (A or B) will be most beneficial for depression.
For both groups, as you lie in the scanner, you will be asked to raise the level of a thermometer-like graphic that will be presented to you on a screen, which represents your brain activity detected by the scanner in real-time (this is what we mean by neurofeedback). By trial-and-error, you will hopefully learn ways of thinking that help to increase the level of the thermometer, which will likely be achieved by reducing feelings of guilt.
During Visit 3, we will conduct another set of clinical and psychological questionnaires and assessments to identify any changes in symptoms. We will also send a couple of very short online questionnaires to complete on Week 2 and Week 4 following Visit 3. Overall, it is our hope that some participants will show healthier brain activity patterns and increased self-esteem following neurofeedback.
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR YOU?
There will be no direct benefits to taking part in this study, because a single neurofeedback session is very unlikely to have any long-term effects, but your participation will help us to understand more about depression and how it could be treated. You will also have the opportunity to take home a picture of your brain from the scanning session, and you will receive some monetary compensation for your time, inconvenience and any discomfort caused.
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HOW DO YOU SIGN UP?
If you are interested in participating, please complete this online pre-screening questionnaire to check your initial eligibility for participation in the study: https://universityofsussex.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6D9B50oS3KBw3jM
You can also contact us by email or telephone (see details below) for further information.
Some of the eligibility criteria you can check for yourself now. You need to:
• be proficient in English
• live within 2 hours travel of the University of Sussex
• have online access
• be aged 18 or over
• have no current, or history of, alcohol or substance abuse
• have no current, or history of, bipolar disorder or hypomania
• be experiencing significant and stable symptoms over the past 6 weeks
• prove an insufficient response to previous treatment (e.g. antidepressants)
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CONTACT DETAILS
Mr Alex Nagle
PhD student
Telephone: 07513 268142
Email: a.nagle@bsms.ac.uk
Dr James Stone
Reader in Psychiatry
Honorary Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry
Telephone: 01273 873833
Email: j.stone@bsms.ac.uk
