Effect of Mindfulness-based Neurofeedback for Adolescents With Elevated Repetitive Negative Thinking
Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Repetitive Negative Thinking, Neurofeedback
In brief
This study will test the hypotheses that adolescent with repetitive negative thinking who at at-risk for serious mental illness will show greater default mode network (DMN) connectivity than healthy controls, at-risk adolescents will show greater changes in DMN connectivity than healthy controls, and that a longer session of mindfulness based neurofeedback will lead to greater reduction in DMN connectivity. To do so, 50 adolescents with elevated repetitive negative thinking and 50 matched healthy control participants will be enrolled into a double-blind randomized clinical trial of a session of mindfulness training with either active mindfulness-basde neurofeedback or sham mindfulness-based neurofeedback.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07055217
- Run by
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- People needed
- 100
- Starts
- 2025-11-04
- Expected to finish
- 2027-04-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-05-19
Who can join
Age: 13 and older, up to 21. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Ages 13-21, inclusive
- If <18 years old: Competent and willing to provide written informed assent AND have a parent/legal guardian who is competent and willing to provide written informed consent
- If age ≥18 years: Competent and willing to provide written informed consent
- Tanner puberty stage ≥3 (to minimize neuroendocrine variability)
- Able to understand study procedures, read, and write in English
- Access to a mobile device to complete daily surveys
- Additional Inclusion Criteria for At-Risk Adolescents - Recurrent negative thinking, defined as PTQ/PTQ-C total score >30 with at least two items rated as 3 (Often) or 4 (Almost Always)
- Additional Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls
- PTQ/PTQ-C total score <15, with zero items rated as 3 (Often) or 4 (Always)
You may not qualify if…
- Any of the following lifetime mental health disorders by DSM-V criteria: psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, recurrent moderate or severe major depressive disorder, conduct disorder, developmental disorder (e.g., autism), post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder
- Severe lifetime substance use disorder
- Unstable medical or neurologic condition as determined by study staff, history of epilepsy or seizure disorder, head injury, loss of consciousness >5 minutes by participant self-report
- MRI contraindications (i.e. presence of ferromagnetic implants, cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires, metallic particles in the body, vascular clips in the head or previous neurosurgery, prosthetic heart valves, magnetic dental implants claustrophobia).
- Visual, auditory, or cognitive impairment (IQ<80 based on the Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale (WASI)) that may make it difficult to participate.
- Any condition or situation that would, in the investigator's opinion, make it unlikely that the participant could adhere safely to the study protocol.
- Pregnancy: a negative pregnancy test is required at the time of enrollment for any individuals of childbearing potential
- Individuals who are under the legal protection of the government or state (Wards of the State)
Where it is running
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Addiction Medicine, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 320, Boston, MA 02114 — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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