Understanding how depression and anxiety affect responses to rewards and losses

Evaluating Overlap and Distinctiveness in Neurocomputational Loss and Reward Elements of the RDoC Matrix

NA · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · NCT05384158

This study is testing how depression and anxiety affect people's reactions to winning and losing, and how these reactions might change after they try cognitive behavioral therapy.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment252 (estimated)
Ages25 Years to 50 Years
SexAll
SponsorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Roanoke, Virginia)
Trial IDNCT05384158 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the neural and behavioral mechanisms of how individuals with depressed mood, anhedonia, and anxiety respond to rewards and losses. It aims to determine the relationships among these valuation mechanisms and how they may change over time, under different task instructions, and after undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants will engage in tasks that assess their responses to rewards and losses, both with and without specific instructions, to gain insights into their emotional and cognitive processes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are individuals experiencing symptoms of mood disorders, anxiety, or anhedonia that impact their daily functioning.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of seizure disorders, significant head injuries, or those currently pregnant may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for individuals suffering from depression and anxiety by enhancing our understanding of their valuation processes.

How similar studies have performed: While studies on valuation mechanisms in mood disorders exist, this specific approach combining cognitive behavioral therapy with valuation tasks is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* mood, anxiety, or anhedonia symptoms that affect functioning; fluent in English; able to see computer display; able to perform simple computer games.

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of seizure disorder, stroke, or head injury with more than 10 minutes of unconsciousness; hormone disorder; electroconvulsive therapy within 5 years; history of chemotherapy for cancer; current pregnancy; contraindications to MRI

Where this trial is running

Roanoke, Virginia

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Neurobehavioral Components of Reward and Loss Valuation, depression, anxiety, anhedonia

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.