Clinical Trial: Effects of Online Cognitive Control Training on Rumination and Depressive Symptoms

Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: "Ein Training Kognitiver Kontrolle Emotionaler Inhalte im Arbeitsgedächtnis: Effekte Auf Die Häufigkeit Und Auswirkungen Von Grübeln Bei Depressiven Patienten" (English: Train

Brief Summary: The present study examines whether a computerized cognitive control training as compared to a placebo (fake) training will reduce the frequency of depressive rumination in depressed individuals. Rumination has been identified as a major risk factor for the onset and recurrence of depressive episodes and it has been suggested that it is linked to deficits in cognitive control functions. It is thus expected that training cognitive control will reduce the frequency of rumination as well as ameliorate its detrimental effect on negative mood states.

Detailed Summary:

Rumination has been shown to intensify dysphoric mood and is one of the best researched risk factors for the onset and recurrence of depressive episodes. Accumulating evidence suggests that the tendency to ruminate is linked to impairments in cognitive control functions, especially to problems discarding no longer relevant negative material from working memory (=working memory updating).

The aim of the present study is to examine whether training to update emotional material in working memory will have an effect on the frequency of using rumination as well as on the impact of rumination on mood in the daily lives of clinically depressed participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to 10 sessions of either online cognitive control training or an online placebo condition. The ability to update emotional material in working memory will be assessed pre and post training by two computer tasks (close and far transfer tasks). The effects of the training on daily rumination and the dynamics between daily mood and rumination will be assessed pre- and post-training, as well as at 3-months follow-up using ambulatory assessment (via smartphone app). It is expected that individuals in the training as compared to the placebo group will show a greater reduction in rumination frequency as well as a reduction in the negative impact of rumination on mood.

Current Primary Outcome:

• Change in rumination frequency in daily life [ Time Frame: from 7-day assessment at pre-training (baseline) to (a) 7-day assessment at post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase), and (b) 7-day assessment at 3-months follow-up ]
  Rumination frequency is measured by 2 items in the ambulatory assessment. The ambulatory assessment is employed for 7 days pre-training, 7 days post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase), and 7 days at 3-months follow-up with 8 prompts per day during each assessment period
• Change in the impact of daily rumination on daily mood [ Time Frame: from 7-day assessment at pre-training (baseline) to (a) 7-day assessment at post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase), and (b) 7-day assessment at 3-months follow-up ]
  The impact of rumination on mood is assessed as the effect of rumination at time t on depressed and positive mood at time t+1 in a multi level model; Time t refers to consecutive assessment points in the ambulatory assessment. The ambulatory assessment is employed for 7 days pre-training, 7 days post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase), and 7 days at 3-months follow-up with 8 prompts per day during each assessment period. Rumination frequency is assessed by two items; depressed and positive mood are each assessed by the average score of two items.

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

• Change in the ability to update emotional material in working memory [ Time Frame: from pre-training to post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase) ]
  Manipulation Check: Measured by two computer tasks (non-adaptive n-back task; modified Sternberg task) in the lab sessions pre- and post-training (=within a week after the end of the training phase). Dependent variables are the differences in accuracy rates and reaction times between the experimental and the control condition in these tasks.
• Change in depressive mood [ Time Frame: from 7-day assessment at pre-training (baseline) to (a) 7-day assessment at post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase), and (b) 7-day assessment at 3-months follow-up ]
  Depressed mood is assessed by the average score of 2 items in the ambulatory assessment. Ambulatory assessment is employed for 7 days pre-training, 7 days post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase), and 7 days at 3-months follow-up with 8 prompts per day during each assessment period.
• Change in levels of disability [ Time Frame: from pre-training to post-training (within a week after the end of the training phase) ]
  Level of disability is assessed by the sum score of the self-report version of the World Health Organization Disability Schedule 2.0 in the lab sessions pre- and post-training (=within 7 days after the end of the training phase)

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Freie Universität Berlin

Dates:
Date Received: December 19, 2016
Date Started: February 2017
Date Completion: January 2019
Last Updated: January 3, 2017
Last Verified: January 2017