Recruiting

Training Reward Responsiveness Through Virtual Reality

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT07219875

PhasePHASE2

Enrollment80

SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Age18 Years

SexALL

I'm interested View official listing

Conditions studied

Positive Affect, Depression

About this study

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms. VR-Reward Training is a novel intervention aimed at enhancing savoring of positive experiences among individuals with depression and low positive affect through guided imaginal recounting following immersion in positive VR experiences. The current study tests an enhanced version of this training using improved virtual reality technology. Target enrollment is 80 participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomly assigned to 7 weeks of either Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) or Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT). Participants will complete in-person VR sessions, laboratory assessments, self-report questionnaires as part of the study. A subset of 8 participants randomly assigned to VR-RT will complete fMRI scans and EMA surveys. The total length of participation is around 3 months.

Interventions

Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) — Participants will complete verbal recounting (present-tense, field perspective, positive details) and guided imaginal recounting of positive details for rewarding VR experiences and positive autobiographical memories.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) — Participants will complete verbal recounting (past-tense, observer perspective, objective details) and guided imaginal recounting of neutral details for neutral VR experiences and neutral non-personal stories

Primary outcomes

The Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire - Anhedonic Depression Subscale (MASQ-AD) (Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).)
Positive Valence Systems Scale (PVSS-21) (Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: 1. At least 18 years old 2. Fluent in written and spoken English 3. Meet all of the following dimensional score cutoffs: 1. Score on the DASS-21 depression subscale must be ≥ 8 2. Score on the PANAS-P of 27 or lower 3. Score on the WSAS of ≥ 11 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation, or organic brain damage 2. Substance use disorder in the past 6 months 3. Current use of psychotropic medications 4. Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant 5. Self-reported frequent motion sickness 6. Self-reported seizures within the last year and/or a diagnosis of epilepsy

Study locations

University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095 United States

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.