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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03056963

Guided Imagery Training and Self-Referential Processing

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a guided imagery paradigm for reducing negative ways of thinking about the self. There will be at least 60 participants enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin. Participants will be randomly selected to receive one of two types of trainings, each over the course of two weeks. Participants will undergo the training exercises at home. The training exercises will help them to think differently about themselves.

Participants will be able to determine if they are eligible, and then participate, by filling out a screening questionnaire online.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Negative Thoughts

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas, 78703, United States

About this study

This study uses a randomized controlled trial to compare two types of guided imagery. One intervention is an active intervention; the other is intended to be inert. These interventions were developed based on extensive research indicating the efficacy of using imagery in depression, and a perceived lack of treatments targeting biased self-referential processing.

This protocol aims to develop a novel intervention which can be used on its own or as an adjunct to existing treatments. Common treatments for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are diffuse; this paradigm instead aims to specifically target negative self-schema, a part of the cognitive model of MDD. This study focuses on participants with elevated depressive symptoms.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • willing and able to provide informed consent
  • elevated depressive symptoms -- i.e., a score above a 13 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD)

Exclusion criteria

  • N/A

Treatment and study plan

Positive Self-Reference Training

Behavioral

Participants in this intervention will review a brief psychoeducational video describing the training, and then be given cues every other day designed to practice skills. Participants will then practice visualizing and describing scenes based on these cues. This training will be focused on positive self-referent material.

Neutral Training Control

Behavioral

Participants in this intervention will review a brief psychoeducational video describing the training, and then be given cues every other day designed to practice skills. Participants will then practice visualizing and describing scenes based on these cues. This training will be focused on neutral, non-self-referent material.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in response on the Self-Referent Encoding Task (SRET)

    Time frame: Participants will complete the SRET at baseline, after one week, and after two weeks. Change will be assessed primarily as SRET at two weeks MINUS SRET at baseline.

    The SRET is a task that asks participants to categorize words as self-referential or not. Its outcomes are focused on behavioral response and reaction time. We have shown that it has good test-retest reliability over the course of one week.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Depressive Symptomatology

    Time frame: Participants will complete measures of depressive symptoms at baseline, after one week, and after two weeks.

    Measures of depressive symptoms will be measured with the CESD, a self-report questionnaire used in the literature to measure levels of depression. This questionnaire has good test-retest reliability, and reliably changes with symptoms.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Texas at Austin

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Feb 17, 2017
Registry last updated
Jul 19, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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