Understanding how depression and anxiety affect responses to rewards and losses
Official title: Evaluating Overlap and Distinctiveness in Neurocomputational Loss and Reward Elements of the RDoC Matrix
Run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · NCT05384158 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 25 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 252 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Roanoke, Virginia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 1, 2021 |
| Main results expected | July 2027 |
| Study ends | July 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05384158 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are individuals experiencing symptoms of mood disorders, anxiety, or anhedonia that impact their daily functioning.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a history of seizure disorders, significant head injuries, or those currently pregnant may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: While studies on valuation mechanisms in mood disorders exist, this specific approach combining cognitive behavioral therapy with valuation tasks is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion
Roanoke, Virginia, United States Recruiting
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Do home water filters improve health for people with private wells in rural Central Appalachia
This study tests whether providing point-of-use water filters to households using well or spring water in rural Central Appalachia can reduce acute gastrointestinal illness.
-
LIFU for Chronic Pain and Generalized Anxiety Disorder
A small, one-arm study will test whether accelerated low-intensity focused ultrasound can help people with chronic pain or generalized anxiety disorder.
-
Cooking Health-Oriented Meals to Try for Dementia and Diabetes
This program tests whether learning to cook healthy meals can help people with type 2 diabetes who are at risk for dementia improve their cognitive health and overall well-being.
-
Remote Haptic Rehab for Parkinson's Disease
This trial tests a remote, hands-on rehabilitation system to help adults with Parkinson's disease improve motor function at home.
-
Holographic Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Anxiety
This study tests whether applying repeated, personalized holographic low-intensity focused ultrasound can help reduce anxiety symptoms in adults with generalized anxiety disorder.
-
Potato-rich diet for cardiometabolic health in adults with type 2 diabetes risk
This study tests whether a potato-rich healthy eating pattern can improve cardiometabolic health in adults aged 50–70 who are at risk for type 2 diabetes but not yet diagnosed.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.