RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06696001

Neuroscience of Psychotherapy for Depression

Interbrain Synchronization of the Therapist-Client Dyad in Psychotherapy: Pilot EEG Study in Students With Mild-Moderate Depression Symptoms

Sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Enrollment

45 participants

Start Date

Apr 11, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Depression

Summary

The goal of this study is to learn the extent to which client-therapist brain activity may synchronize during a psychosocial intervention for depression symptoms. The study will compare behavioral activation, a client-centered type of cognitive-behavioral therapy, to psychoeducation which delivers information on strategies to recover from depression symptoms. Participants will answer questions about their mental and physical health, attend one psychosocial intervention session receiving either Behavioral Activation or Psychoeducation with simultaneous brain activity measurement and complete follow up surveys two weeks and one month following the intervention.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 30 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is exploring the neuroscience behind psychotherapy for depression in college students — looking at what brain changes occur during therapy and which brain patterns predict who responds best to treatment. Both student participants with mild to moderate depression and the therapists treating them will be studied. **You may be eligible if (as a patient)...** - You are between 18 and 30 years old and currently enrolled as a full-time student - You have mild to moderate depressive symptoms (score of 14–28 on the Beck Depression Inventory) - You can speak, read, and understand English - You have not recently started psychotherapy (within the past month) **You may NOT be eligible if (as a patient)...** - You have active suicidal thoughts in the past month or have ever attempted suicide - You have a psychotic disorder or are at elevated risk of psychosis - You have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder - You take high doses of benzodiazepine medications daily - You are unable to give voluntary, written consent Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALPsychoeducation

For the psychoeducation session, the focus is for the therapist to engage with the client regarding mental health broadly without a targeted effort to reinforce therapeutic alliance or to offer individualized guidance or techniques. The session will provide educational information on depression, depression symptoms and known causes, and strategies to reduce depression symptoms. The content will be delivered in a fashion to avoid individualization and psychotherapeutic exchange. The elements will focus on components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), differentiating between thoughts and feelings, common cognitive shortcuts, and the connection between behavior and emotion.

BEHAVIORALBehavioral Activation

Behavioral Activation (BA) is a psychotherapy treatment modality used for depression and focuses on replacing maladaptive coping mechanism that reinforce depressive symptoms with adaptive coping mechanisms to increase exposure to positive reinforcement. The treatment will consist of the following elements: Introduction to establish concept of positive reinforcement and build rapport, identification of client-centered values, individualized values-based activity planning and scheduling, and developing adaptive coping strategies for the future.