Adolescent Attention to Emotion Study

University of Pittsburgh15 enrolled

Overview

Rates of depression increase rapidly during adolescence, especially for girls, and, thus, research is needed to spur the development of novel interventions to prevent adolescent depression. This project seeks to determine if a novel visuocortical probe of affect-biased attention (i.e., steady-state visual evoked potentials derived from EEG) can 1) be used to prospectively predict depression using a multi-wave repeated measures design and 2) modify affect-biased attention and buffer subsequent mood reactivity using real time neurofeedback. This work could ultimately lead to improved identification of adolescents who are at high risk for depression and directly inform the development of mechanistic treatment targets to be used in personalized intervention prescriptions for high-risk youth.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Depression

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 13 YearsMax age: 15 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants will include 90 female adolescents ages 13 years 0 months through 15 years 11 months at study entry. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Lifetime history of any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5 depressive disorder 2. Lifetime history of taking antidepressants \[e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs)\] 3. Lifetime history of a DSM 5 psychotic, bipolar, or autistic spectrum disorder. 4. Presence of EEG contraindications (e.g., personal lifetime history of seizures or family history of hereditary epilepsy). 5. Being pre-pubertal 6. Lifetime history of a neurological or serious medical condition. 7. Lifetime history of head injury or congenital neurological anomalies (based on parent report). 8. Intelligence quotient (IQ) less than 80, as assessed using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). 9. Uncorrected visual disturbance 10. Being acutely suicidal or at risk for harm to self or others.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Affect-biased Attention Following Neurofeedback (Immediately Post-Intervention)

To measure affect-biased attention, steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) were derived from EEG and used to index the amount of stimulus-driven attention to negative distractors relative to task-relevant stimuli. Affect-biased attention was assessed immediately before and immediately after the real-time SSVEP neurofeedback training to evaluate changes within the same session. The outcome below reflects the post-neurofeedback SSVEP competition index (Task / \[Task + Distractor\]). Scores above .50 indicate greater attention to the task stimulus.

Time frame: Approximately 1 hour total: baseline assessment immediately before neurofeedback and post-neurofeedback assessment immediately after the ~1 hour training session on the same day.

Secondary Outcomes

Sadness Ratings Following Laboratory Stressor (Immediately Post-Stressor)

Participants completed a laboratory stressor following real-time SSVEP neurofeedback training to assess how well the intervention buffered sadness reactivity. State sadness was assessed immediately before and immediately after the stressor using a 100-millimeter visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from "neutral" to "very sad." Higher scores indicate greater sadness. The value reported below reflects the post-stressor rating.

Time frame: Approximately 30 minutes total: baseline sadness rating immediately before and post-stressor rating immediately after the ~30-minute laboratory stressor on the same day.

Anxiety Rating Following Laboratory Stressor (Immediately Post-Stressor)

Participants completed a laboratory stressor following real-time SSVEP neurofeedback training to assess how well the intervention buffered sadness reactivity. State anxiety was assessed immediately before and immediately after the stressor using a 100-millimeter visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from "neutral" to "very anxious." Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. The value reported below reflects the post-stressor rating.

Time frame: Baseline and following laboratory stressor (~30 minutes)