Can neurofeedback-based modification of functional cerebral asymmetries and anterior cingulate activation improve the treatment of depressive disorders? - Study 1: Modification of prefrontal functional asymmetries to reduce depressive symptoms

Can neurofeedback-based modification of functional cerebral asymmetries and anterior cingulate activation improve the treatment of depressive disorders? - Study 1: Modification of prefrontal functional asymmetries to reduce depressive symptoms - NF-Study1

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00012261

Enrollment

Registered

2017-04-05

Start date

2017-05-05

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

F32 F33

Interventions

Group 1: In this neurofeedback study, the individual training areas are determined with an open mood induction task. From this localizer task, the experimental group shall deactivate right-hemispheric

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 60 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: mild or major unipolar depression; ability to understand and speak german fluently

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: contraindications against MRI measurements; limited or inexistent ability to give an informed consent; neurological diseases; acute suicidality; acute somatic diseases; color blindness

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
statistically significant differences between the median scores of the german psychological questionnaires ADS ("Allgemeine Depressions-Skala", which means "General Depression Scale") and VFE-PT ("Veränderungsfragebogen zum Entspannungserleben und Befinden - Psychotherapie", which roughly translates to "Questionnaire to measure changes in the personal experience and personal wellbeing during psychotherapy") of experimental and control group - these psychological questionnaires will be administered once before the first fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Pretest) and once after the last fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Posttest) to measure the effect of the neurofeedback training (comparison of the test scores before versus after training)	—

Measure

Time frame

statistically significant differences between the median scores of the german psychological questionnaires ADS ("Allgemeine Depressions-Skala", which means "General Depression Scale") and VFE-PT ("Veränderungsfragebogen zum Entspannungserleben und Befinden - Psychotherapie", which roughly translates to "Questionnaire to measure changes in the personal experience and personal wellbeing during psychotherapy") of experimental and control group - these psychological questionnaires will be administered once before the first fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Pretest) and once after the last fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Posttest) to measure the effect of the neurofeedback training (comparison of the test scores before versus after training)

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
statistically significant differences between the median Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) scores of experimental and control group regarding the positive scale score, negative scale score and the overall score - these psychological questionnaires will be administered once before the first fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Pretest) and once after the last fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Posttest) to measure the effect of the neurofeedback training (comparison of the test scores before versus after training)	—

Measure

Time frame

statistically significant differences between the median Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) scores of experimental and control group regarding the positive scale score, negative scale score and the overall score - these psychological questionnaires will be administered once before the first fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Pretest) and once after the last fMRI-neurofeedback training session (Posttest) to measure the effect of the neurofeedback training (comparison of the test scores before versus after training)

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactSusanne Bergert

Uniklinik Münster Institut für klinische Radiologie -TRIC

susanne.bergert@ukmuenster.de0251-8344327

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026