Treatment for Affect Dimensions

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Depression, Anxiety

In brief

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and targets of Positive Affect Treatment, a psychotherapy specifically aimed at enhancing reward sensitivity in individuals with low positive affect (a core feature of anhedonia) in the context of depression or anxiety. Target enrollment is 68 male and female participants with low positive affect and depression or anxiety and impaired functioning, between the ages of 18 and 65 years, who will be randomized to either Positive Affect Treatment or Negative Affect Treatment (designed to reduce threat sensitivity). Participants will complete laboratory tests, psychiatric assessments, and self-report questionnaires as part of the study. The total length of participation is around 4 months.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03439748

Run by

University of California, Los Angeles

People needed

85

Starts

2019-02-01

Expected to finish

2021-06-30

Last updated by the study team

2024-06-12

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• English-speaking
• Low positive affect indexed by less than or equal to 24 on the positive affect subscale of the PANAS (i.e., PANAS-P); and scores of greater than or equal to 11 for depression, greater to or equal to 6 for anxiety, or greater to or equal to 10 for stress on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; and scores of greater than or equal to 5 on any Sheehan Disability Scale subscale.
• Willingness to refrain from starting other psychosocial or pharmacological treatments until study completion.

You may not qualify if…

• Patient report of serious medical conditions - such as history of serious, uncontrolled medical illness, or instability (including significant cardio-pulmonary disease, organic brain syndrome, seizure disorder, cerebrovascular disease, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetes)
• Active suicidal ideation
• Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation, or organic brain damage
• Substance abuse in the last 6 months or dependence within last 12 months.
• 11 or more cigarettes per week or nicotine equivalent.
• History of marijuana, cocaine or stimulant use 5-7 times/week or more before age 15 (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine)
• Pregnancy
• Bupropion, dopaminergic or neuroleptic medication use in the past 6 months
• Heterocyclics and SSRIs are permitted if stabilized (3 months) and PRN benzodiazepines and beta-blockers are permitted but discouraged on laboratory assessment visits
• Refusal of video/audio-taping

Where it is running

• University of California, Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California, United States
• Southern Methodist University — Dallas, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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