Mindfulness-Based fMRI Neurofeedback for Depression
Eligible age
13–18 yrs
Accepts
All genders
Locations
2 states
Healthy volunteers
No
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About this study
In the United States, adolescents experience alarmingly high rates of major depression, and gold-standard treatments are only effective for approximately half of patients. Rumination may be a promising treatment target, as it is well-characterized at the neural level and contributes to depression onset, maintenance, and recurrence as well as predicts treatment non-response. Accordingly, the proposed research will investigate whether an innovative mindfulness-based real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback intervention successfully elicits change in the brain circuit underlying rumination to improve clinical outcomes among depressed adolescents.
Sponsor: Columbia University
You may qualify if…
- ✓ Ages 13-18 years-old
- ✓ Written informed assent/consent and parental/guardian permission for 13-17 year-olds or informed consent for 18 year-olds
- ✓ Tanner puberty stage ≥3
- ✓ Meets current diagnostic criteria for MDD
- ✓ English fluency
You may not qualify if…
- ✕ Lifetime history of primary psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, developmental disorder (e.g., autism), post-traumatic stress disorder, or eating disorders
- ✕ Substance use disorder, moderate or severe in past 6 months
- ✕ Active suicidal ideation with a specific plan
- ✕ History of seizure disorder
- ✕ Medical or neurological illness (e.g., severe head injury)
- ✕ MRI contraindications
- ✕ Current psychotropic medication use other than antidepressant medication
- ✕ Intelligence quotient (IQ) \<80.
Where it's recruiting
Boston
New York
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05617495 · last updated 2026-04-29