Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Code:

NCT05384158

Conditions

Neurobehavioral Components of Reward and Loss Valuation

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 25 - 50

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

cognitive behavioral therapy

valuation with instruction

valuation without instruction

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study examines how people respond to rewards and losses, and the extent to which these responses are linked or distinct among people experiencing depressed mood, anhedonia, and/or anxiety.

Conditions

Neurobehavioral Components of Reward and Loss Valuation

Study ID

NCT05384158

Start date

Aug 1, 2021

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 25 - 50

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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

Study Design

Enrollment

252 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Cognitive behavioral therapy

cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, anxiety, and/or anhedonia

active comparator: Valuation with instruction

repeat laboratory sessions of a reward/loss learning computer game with specific instructions

active comparator: Valuation without instruction

repeat laboratory sessions of a reward/loss learning computer game without specific instructions

Interventions

cognitive behavioral therapy

cognitive behavioral therapy

valuation with instruction

repeat laboratory sessions of computerized learning game

valuation without instruction

repeat laboratory sessions of computerized learning game

Primary outcome measure

  • change in proportion correct on the 'N-arm bandit learning task' [ Time Frame: study entrance to study exit, an average of 12 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion

Recruiting

Roanoke, Virginia, United States, 24014

Contacts

Pearl Chiu, PhD

540-526-2032chiup@vtc.vt.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Last update posted

Aug 28, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • depression
  • anxiety
  • anhedonia

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University on 2026-08-28.