Training Reward Responsiveness Through Virtual Reality

NCT07219875 | Recruiting Phase 2

• 1 other identifier: IRB-22-0269
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of enhanced Virtual Reality-Reward Training (eVR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms. Enhanced 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 enhanced 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.

Conditions

Positive Affect; Depression

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire - Anhedonic Depression Subscale (MASQ-AD)

  Change in reported anhedonia (score range: 14-70), with higher scores indicating greater anhedonic symptom severity

  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 in reward anticipation, motivation, and consumption for rewards such as rewards such as food, physical touch, positive feedback, social interactions, hobbies and goals (score range: 21-105). Higher scores (e.g. 105) indicate higher reward responsiveness.

  Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21)

  Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).

• Positive and Negative Affective Schedule (PANAS)

  Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).

• Positive and Negative Affective Schedule (PANAS-X)

  Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).

• Responses to Positive Affect Questionnaire (RPA)

  Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).

• Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)

  Change from Week 0 assessment to Post-Assessment (Week 8). Change from Week 0 assessment to Follow-Up (Week 12).

Study Arms (2)

Enhanced Virtual Reality-Reward Training (eVR-RT)

EXPERIMENTAL

13 sessions of positive VR immersion and positive memory specificity training exercises designed to savor rewarding features of immersion followed by memory specificity training exercises to savor rewarding features of autobiographical memory

Behavioral: Enhanced Virtual Reality-Reward Training (eVR-RT)

Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

13 sessions of neutral VR immersion and neutral memory specificity training exercises, designed to train memory of objective non-emotional stimuli followed by memory exercises to neutral non-personal stories

Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)

Interventions

Enhanced Virtual Reality-Reward Training (eVR-RT) BEHAVIORAL

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.

Enhanced Virtual Reality-Reward Training (eVR-RT)

Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) BEHAVIORAL

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

Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• At least 18 years old
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Meet all of the following dimensional score cutoffs:
• Score on the DASS-21 depression subscale must be ≥ 8
• Score on the PANAS-P of 27 or lower
• Score on the WSAS of ≥ 11

You may not qualify if:

• Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation, or organic brain damage
• Substance use disorder in the past 6 months
• Current use of psychotropic medications
• Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• Self-reported frequent motion sickness
• Self-reported seizures within the last year and/or a diagnosis of epilepsy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Los Angeles: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 22, 2025
• First Posted: October 22, 2025
• Study Start: July 8, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Last Updated: October 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Locations

US (1)