You are here
Positive Valence System Function and Reward Exposure Therapy for Late-Life Depression
Clinical Trial Details
The goal of this study is to learn about changes in the brain that occur during Engage, a psychotherapy for depression in older adults, and how they may differ from changes that occur during supportive therapy. Older adults with depression will receive 9 weeks of either Engage or supportive therapy and will complete research assessments before the therapy begins and at weeks 3, 6, and 9 of treatment. Research assessments will include questionnaires, computer tasks, and recordings of electrical brain activity (also called electroencephalography or EEG).
Key Eligibility:
Inclusion Criteria
- At least 60 years old
- Major depressive disorder without psychotic features
- Not on antidepressants or on a stable does for the past 12 weeks
- Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale score ≥ 20
- Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥ 24
- Off antidepressants or on a stable dose for 12 weeks without intent to change dose
- Capacity to consent
Exclusion Criteria
- Intent or plan to attempt suicide
- Current psychiatric diagnosis other than Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or specific phobia
- History of past psychiatric diagnoses other than MDD, PDD, or anxiety disorders (separation, specific phobia, social phobia, panic, agoraphobia, GAD)
- Use of psychotropic drugs or cholinesterase inhibitors (other than a stable dose of an antidepressant or benzodiazepines ≤ 0.5mg, ≤ 5x/week)
- Serious medical conditions such as neurological disorders, severe COPD, metastatic cancer, cardiac/renal/respiratory failure, other condition that influences neural systems
Study contact by location
Upper East Side - Manhattan
Westchester
Primary Investigator(s)
Jennifer Bress, PhD (UES)
Protocol ID(s)
Weill Cornell Medicine IRB #:
1803019076
ClinicalTrials.gov:
NCT03688139
Status
Open to Enrollment
Age Group
Adult
Sponsor
- National Institute of Mental Health