Investigating ways to prevent loss of interest in children at risk for depression
Official title: Reward Responsiveness as a Prevention Target in Youth At Risk for Anhedonia
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-10879175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to help kids aged 8 to 12, especially those with a family history of depression, feel more joy and interest in activities by trying out a new program called Family Promoting Positive Emotions, which uses fun techniques to boost their happiness and enjoyment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $715,873 |
| NIH project number | 5R61MH131751-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10879175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 8 to 12 who have a family history of major depressive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Children without a family history of depression or those already experiencing severe mental health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding and preventing anhedonia, a condition where individuals lose interest or pleasure in activities, particularly in children at risk due to family history of depression. The study will implement a new intervention called Family Promoting Positive Emotions (F-PPE), which aims to enhance reward responsiveness in children aged 8 to 12. Using advanced brain imaging techniques, the research will assess the effectiveness of this intervention in increasing neural responses to rewards. By targeting these brain processes, the study hopes to alter the trajectory of mental health outcomes for at-risk youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help prevent the development of anhedonia and related mental health issues in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar interventions to enhance emotional well-being in at-risk populations, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kujawa, Autumn J — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Kujawa, Autumn J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Are memory problems linked to loss of pleasure (anhedonia)?
This project looks at whether memory problems help explain why adults with conditions like depression, PTSD, or schizophrenia lose interest in things they used to enjoy.
-
Neural and computational markers linked to reward that may predict cannabis use escalation in young adults with anhedonia
This study follows young adults with anhedonia to see how their brain responses to rewards and computational signals relate to increasing cannabis use over time.
-
Could brain inflammation cause loss of pleasure and motivation?
Looks at whether blood and brain inflammation are tied to reduced pleasure and motivation in teens and adults.
-
Inflammation and mood/movement issues in people with HIV linked to a next-generation TNF blocker
Aims to see how inflammation affects anhedonia and slow movement in people with HIV when treated with a next-generation TNF blocker.
-
Fentanyl Overdose, Anhedonia, and Relapse Risk in Opioid Use Disorder
This NIH grant aims to understand how a fentanyl overdose might cause anhedonia and raise the risk of relapse for people with opioid use disorder.
-
Epigenetic changes linked to anhedonia and fear in alcohol withdrawal
Researchers are studying how brain cell changes during alcohol withdrawal may drive mood and fear problems, with potential to guide better treatments for AUD-related symptoms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.