Cognitive Process-based Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback in MDD and Rumination

Functional connectivity between precuneus and rTPJ will be calculated and evaluated using fMRI BOLD percent signal change.

The RRS Brooding subscale is a self-report scale to measure brooding ruminative responses. A higher score indicates higher brooding ruminative responses with a maximum score of 20 and a minimum score of 5.

The RRS Depression subscale is a self-report scale to measure depressive ruminative responses. A higher score indicates higher ruminative responses with a maximum score of 48 and a minimum score of 12.

The RRS Reflection subscale is a self-report scale to measure reflective ruminative responses. A higher score indicates higher ruminative responses with a maximum score of 20 and a minimum score of 5.

The RRS Brooding and Depression subscales are a self-report scale to measure brooding and depressive ruminative responses. A higher score indicates higher ruminative responses with a maximum score of 68 and a minimum score of 17.

The RRS is a self-report scale to measure ruminative responses. A higher score indicates higher ruminative responses with a maximum score of 88 and a minimum score of 22.

The MADRS is an interviewer-rated scale to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. A higher score indicates severer depression with a maximum score of 60 and a minimum score of 0.

The HAMA is an interviewer-rated scale to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. A higher score indicates severer anxiety with a maximum score of 56 and a minimum score of 0.

The PHQ-9 is a self-report scale to measure depressive symptoms. A higher score indicates severer depressive symptoms with a maximum score of 27 and a minimum score of 0.

The STAI is a self-report scale to measure anxiety symptoms. The higher score indicates the higher anxiety with a maximum score of 80 and a minimum score of 20.

The MCQ-30 is a self-report scale to assess individual differences in five factors important in the metacognitive model of psychological disorders. The five subscales of the MCQ-30 are: cognitive confidence, positive beliefs about worry, cognitive self-consciousness, negative beliefs about uncontrollability of thoughts and danger, and beliefs about the need to control thoughts. The higher scores indicating higher levels of unhelpful metacognitions with a maximum total score of 120 and a minimum score of 30.

The TCQ is a self-report scale to assess the effectiveness of strategies used for the control of unpleasant and unwanted thoughts. The TCQ measures five factors that correspond to different strategies for controlling unwanted thoughts: Distraction; Social Control; Worry; Punishment; and Re-appraisal. The higher scores indicating the effectiveness of strategies for controlling unwanted thoughts with a maximum total score of 120 and a minimum score of 30.

The RSE is a self-report scale to assess global self-worth by measuring both positive and negative feelings about the self. A higher score indicates a higher self-esteem with a maximum score of 30 and a minimum score of 0.

The TEPS is a self-report scale to assess pleasure experience. Anticipatory abstract pleasure reflected the pleasure experienced in anticipation of something more abstract or broad in nature. Consummatory abstract pleasure was related to consummation of emotional experience of something that is more abstract in nature. A lower score indicates a higher anhedonia propensity with a maximum total score of 120 and a minimum score of 25.

The ERQ is a self-report scale to assess how they regulate their emotions. The ERQ measures two emotion regulation strategies: Cognitive reappraisal and Expressive suppression. The higher indicates the greater the use of that particular emotion regulation strategy with a maximum total score of 70 and a minimum score of 10.

The PANAS-X is a self-report scale to assess emotional states. The PANAS-X measures 11 specific affects: Fear, Sadness, Guilt, Hostility, Shyness, Fatigue, Surprise, Joviality, Self-Assurance, Attentiveness, and Serenity. Scores on Joviality could range from 8 to 40, with high scores indicating high happiness. Scores on Fear/Hostility/Guilt/Self-Assurance could range from 6 to 30, with high scores indicating high fear/hostility/guilt/self-assurance. Scores on Sadness could range from 5 to 25, with high scores indicating high happiness/sadness. Scores on Attentiveness/Shyness/Fatigue could range from 4 to 20, with high scores indicating high attentiveness/shyness/fatigue. Scores on Serenity/Surprise could range from 3 to 15, with high scores indicating high serenity/surprise.

The CEQ is the most widely used measure of treatment credibility and expectancy in psychotherapy research. The CEQ will be administered after the full introduction of the intervention rationale and principles and after the experience of the intervention. The items are rated on 9-point scales ranging from 1 (Not at all logical/useful/confident) to 9 (Very logical/useful/confident), with a total score possible range of 6 to 54. A higher score indicates higher treatment credibility and expectancy.

This is a study original questionnaire assessing the blindness and pleasantness. The blindness item is rated from 0 to 10, with a possible range of 0 to 10. The lower score indicates the confidence of the blindness. The pleasantness item is rated from 0 to 10 , with a possible range of 0 to 10. A higher score indicates the pleasantness of the intervention. The challenging/difficulties items are rated from 0 to 10, with a possible total range of 0 to 20. A higher score indicates the challenges/difficulties of the intervention. The two successful items are rated from 0 to 10, with a possible range of 0 to 20. A higher score indicates the subjective evaluation of the success of the intervention. The four mental strategies items are rated from 0 to 10, with a possible range of 0 to 40. A higher score indicates the mental strategies used in the intervention were helpful.