Emotion Regulation in RNT
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Ghent
About this trial
The goal of this study is to understand why some people become stuck in repetitive negative thinking, which is common among individuals with depression and anxiety. Repetitive negative thinking involves repeatedly focusing on negative events, worries, or problems. These thoughts can be difficult to control and may worsen emotional distress and daily functioning.
Researchers believe that repetitive negative thinking may be related to changes in how different brain networks communicate with each other. This study will examine how the brain responds during emotion regulation tasks in people who tend to ruminate compared with healthy individuals.
To do this, researchers will use a brain-imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This method measures brain activity using harmless infrared light while participants perform tasks on a computer.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
How does the brain respond to emotional situations in people who experience repetitive negative thinking?
Are there differences in brain activity between people with depression or anxiety and healthy individuals during emotion regulation?
Participants will include 50 healthy volunteers and 50 individuals with depression or anxiety who experience repetitive negative thinking.
Participants will:
Wear a lightweight brain-imaging device (fNIRS) placed on the head to measure brain activity
Complete computer tasks involving emotional images and different emotion-regulation strategies, such as reinterpreting, suppressing, or distracting from emotions
Listen to different types of spoken feedback (criticism, praise, or neutral comments) and imagine receiving them from someone they know
Report their emotional feelings during the tasks
Complete several questionnaires about mood, thinking patterns, and emotional experiences
During the experiment, researchers will also record physiological responses such as heart activity and skin reactions, which are related to emotional responses.
The results of this study may help researchers better understand the brain mechanisms underlying rumination and may contribute to the development of more effective treatments for depression and anxiety.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Patient group: diagnosis of depression/GAD
Healthy control group: no history of or current form of psychopathology
Disqualifiers
None
Trial population
Patient group mainly consists of individuals diagnosed with depression or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Trial design
Design model
Cohort
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Treatments tested in this trial
Not listed
Trial groups
100 Participants
are grouped into 2 trial groupsGroup A: Patient group
Group B: Healthy control group
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) total score
The Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) total score will be used to assess repetitive negative thinking at baseline. Baseline PTQ total scores will be compared between patients and healthy controls.
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)2
Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) score
The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) total score will be used to assess worry at baseline. Baseline PSWQ total scores will be compared between patients and healthy controls
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)3
Leuven Adaptation of the Rumination on Sadness Scale (LARSS) score
The Leuven Adaptation of the Rumination on Sadness Scale (LARSS) score will be used to assess rumination at baseline. Baseline LARSS total scores will be compared between patients and healthy controls.
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)4
Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) score
The Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) score will be used to assess rumination at baseline. Baseline RRS total scores will be compared between patients and healthy controls.
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)Secondary outcomes
1
Mean task-evoked oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) changes in cortical regions-mainly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and precuneus-during the emotion regulation task, as measured by fNIRS.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used to measure task-evoked changes in oxygenated (HbO), deoxygenated (HbR), and total hemoglobin (HbT) in predefined prefrontal cortical regions during the emotion regulation task. For each participant, mean HbO, HbR, and HbT changes will be calculated across task blocks and compared between patients and healthy controls at baseline.
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)2
Mean task-evoked oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) change in prefrontal cortical regions during the critical paradigm measured by fNIRS
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used to measure task-evoked changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) in predefined prefrontal cortical regions during the critical paradigm. For each participant, mean HbO changes will be calculated across task blocks and compared between patients and healthy controls at baseline.
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)3
Mean resting-state functional connectivity in prefrontal cortical regions measured by fNIRS
Resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data will be used to assess functional connectivity in predefined prefrontal cortical regions. For each participant, mean resting-state functional connectivity values will be calculated from resting-state recordings and compared between patients and healthy controls at baseline.
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)4
Mean heart rate during experimental tasks measured by electrocardiography (ECG)
Electrocardiography (ECG) will be used to assess heart rate during the experimental tasks. For each participant, mean heart rate will be calculated across task periods and compared between patients and healthy controls at baseline.
Time frame
During a single laboratory session (baseline assessment)Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov