Cognitive Control Training for Depression

Depression is frequently characterized by patterns of inflexible, maladaptive, and ruminative thinking styles; these patterns themselves are thought to result from a combination of decreased attentional control, decreased executive functioning, and increased negative affect. Specifically, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has been hypothesized to play a central role in emotion regulation by recruiting resources necessary for executive control. Recent advances have been made in neurobehavioral training strategies as interventions for emotional disorders such as depression. Cognitive control training (CCT) uses computer-based exercises to recruit and activate prefrontal neural networks via repeated behavioral exercises, with the aim of strengthening cognitive and emotional functions. A previous study found that severely depressed participants who received CCT exhibited reduced negative affect and rumination as well as improved focus and concentration. The present study aimed to extend this line of research by employing a more stringent control group and testing the efficacy of three sessions of CCT over a two-week period in a community population with depressed mood. Forty-eight participants with high BDI-II scores were randomized to CCT or a comparison condition (Peripheral Vision Training; PVT). The investigators hypothesized that relative to a control condition (PVT), CCT would be associated with less self-reported negative mood and emotional reactivity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Peripheral Vision Task; Other: Cognitive Control Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 56
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
      • Boston University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• BU students and local community members.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Familiarity with a computer keyboard.
• BDI-II score ≥ 17

Exclusion Criteria:

• BDI-II score < 17, or > 35

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Peripheral Vision Task; During this task participants viewed a circular array of 15 discs and were asked to move their attention, but not their eyes, clockwise around the array while auditory tones were presented. Following the presentation of a distinct target tone, the discs changed color and participants reported the color of the disc by pressing a designated button on the keyboard. This task was developed to be a non-active control condition, targeting visual and occipital areas of the brain, and therefore allows us to discriminate between the effects of completing a computer-based task from interventions that specifically target the PFC.	Other: Peripheral Vision Task; Three sessions of PVT.
Experimental: Cognitive Control Training; Cognitive Control Training (CCT) A modified version of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) and the Attention Control Intervention were used to train participants' attentional control in accordance with procedures used by Siegle and colleagues.	Other: Cognitive Control Training; Three sessions of CCT.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Beck Depression Inventory	Change score in BDI was assessed between CCT and PVT groups.	two weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Positive and Negative Affective Scale (PANAS)	We looked at the change scores in positive and negative affectivity between CCT and PVT groups.	two weeks
Emotional Response and Recovery Task	We looked at the emotional responses to IAPS images between CCT and PVT groups.	two weeks
Changes in Visual Analog Scales	We looked at the change scores in visual analog scales (happy/sad) between CCT and PVT groups.	two weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Boston University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 14, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): October 18, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 18, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 14, 2011
• Last Verified: October 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Depressed mood
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: BU-2182E