DepressionNCT05601362
Evaluation of a Therapeutic Mobile App for Depression
A study testing Gamified Attention Bias Modification in people with Depression, run by Christopher G. Beevers at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is a preliminary evaluation of a gamified attention bias modification training (GAMBT) for reducing symptoms of depression and rumination. Individuals with elevated symptoms of depression will use the digital intervention over the course of 4 weeks. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression
- What is being tested?
- Gamified Attention Bias Modification
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 110 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 30 Mar 2023to 30 Aug 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- able and willing to provide informed consent;
- fluent in English;
- normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- moderate or greater depression symptoms (defined as greater than or equal to 10 on the PHQ-8);
- attention bias for negative stimuli (operationalized as greater than an average of 6500 ms of dwell time on sad faces in an attention bias task);
- stable psychiatric and neurological medication usage.
- access to a smartphone for downloading the app and a laptop or desktop computer to complete the weekly assessments
Who cannot join
- recent heavy alcohol use defined as a score of 2 or higher on the PDSQ
- past or present comorbidity of other serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, etc.)
- previous experience with gamified attention bias modification app
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The purpose of this study is a preliminary evaluation of a gamified attention bias modification training (GAMBT) for reducing symptoms of depression and rumination. Individuals with elevated symptoms of depression will use the digital intervention over the course of 4 weeks. They will complete a brief (~5 question) survey daily, as well as weekly assessments.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the digital therapeutic attention bias modification (ABM) intervention that targets and reduces negative attention bias among adults with elevated symptoms of depression. Consistent with the experimental therapeutics approach ABM has been shown to both reduce negative attention bias and improve symptoms of depression. However, engagement with these tasks have been mixed, with some participants describing traditional ABM tasks as boring. This had led to the development of gamified versions of ABM with the intent to improve participant engagement. Nevertheless, there have been very few rigorous trials of ABM for depression, and no one to our knowledge has used ecological momentary assessment to tease apart the mechanisms by which ABM can lead to improvements in depression symptoms.
Participants will access the intervention on their mobile smart phone and complete treatment over a period of 4 weeks. Enrolled participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Gamified attention bias modification training, or gamified placebo training. They will complete brief (~5 questions) daily surveys, as well as weekly remote assessments of attention bias and depression symptoms.
- Conditions
- Depression
- Being tested
- Gamified Attention Bias Modification, Gamified Placebo Training
- Medical subject headings
- Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Gamified Attention Bias ModificationDevice
Gamified computerized behavioral therapy with therapeutic intervention based on Attention Bias Modification Training (ABMT).
Gamified Placebo TrainingDevice
Placebo version of Gamified Attention Bias Modification. (Identical version of the gamified behavioral intervention without manipulation designed to decrease negative attention bias).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Gamified Attention Bias Modification | Active comparator | Digital therapeutic intervention based on Attention Bias Modification Training (ABMT) designed to decrease negative attention bias. Receives: Device: Gamified Attention Bias Modification |
| Gamified Placebo Training | Sham comparator | Identical version of the gamified behavioral intervention without manipulation designed to decrease negative attention bias Receives: Device: Gamified Placebo Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient Health Questionnaire - 8 (PHQ-8)
8-item self-report measure of depression symptom severity (Range: 0-24, higher scores indicate greater depression severity)
Measured: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Ruminative Response Scale - Brooding Subscale (RRS-B)
5-item self-report measure of rumination frequency (Range: 1-20, higher scores indicate more rumination)
Measured: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) -"Difficult to Disengage From" Subscale
3-item self-report measure of rumination frequency (Range: 0-12, higher scores indicate more rumination)
Measured: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) Dysphoria Subscale
10-item measure of dysphoria and depression symptoms (Range: 10-50, higher scores indicate greater dysphoria)
Measured: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Nov 2022
- Study start30 Mar 2023
- Primary completion30 Aug 2023
- Study completion30 Aug 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for DepressionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Christopher G. Beevers
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Christopher G. Beevers, University of Texas at Austin
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05601362
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00003315
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Oct 2022
- Last updated
- 6 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified data will be made available upon study completion.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of a Therapeutic Mobile App for Depression
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05601362
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00003315
- Conditions
- Depression
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Christopher G. BeeversUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 6 Jul 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is a preliminary evaluation of a gamified attention bias modification training (GAMBT) for reducing symptoms of depression and rumination. Individuals with elevated symptoms of depression will use the digital intervention over the course of 4 weeks. They will complete a brief (~5 question) survey daily, as well as weekly assessments.
Detailed description
This study aims to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the digital therapeutic attention bias modification (ABM) intervention that targets and reduces negative attention bias among adults with elevated symptoms of depression. Consistent with the experimental therapeutics approach ABM has been shown to both reduce negative attention bias and improve symptoms of depression. However, engagement with these tasks have been mixed, with some participants describing traditional ABM tasks as boring. This had led to the development of gamified versions of ABM with the intent to improve participant engagement. Nevertheless, there have been very few rigorous trials of ABM for depression, and no one to our knowledge has used ecological momentary assessment to tease apart the mechanisms by which ABM can lead to improvements in depression symptoms.
Participants will access the intervention on their mobile smart phone and complete treatment over a period of 4 weeks. Enrolled participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Gamified attention bias modification training, or gamified placebo training. They will complete brief (~5 questions) daily surveys, as well as weekly remote assessments of attention bias and depression symptoms.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Gamified Attention Bias Modification | Active comparator | Device: Gamified Attention Bias ModificationDigital therapeutic intervention based on Attention Bias Modification Training (ABMT) designed to decrease negative attention bias. |
| Gamified Placebo Training | Sham comparator | Device: Gamified Placebo TrainingIdentical version of the gamified behavioral intervention without manipulation designed to decrease negative attention bias |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- able and willing to provide informed consent;
- fluent in English;
- normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- moderate or greater depression symptoms (defined as greater than or equal to 10 on the PHQ-8);
- attention bias for negative stimuli (operationalized as greater than an average of 6500 ms of dwell time on sad faces in an attention bias task);
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- recent heavy alcohol use defined as a score of 2 or higher on the PDSQ
- past or present comorbidity of other serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, etc.)
- previous experience with gamified attention bias modification app
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Gamified Attention Bias ModificationGamified computerized behavioral therapy with therapeutic intervention based on Attention Bias Modification Training (ABMT). | Device | Gamified Attention Bias Modification |
| Gamified Placebo TrainingPlacebo version of Gamified Attention Bias Modification. (Identical version of the gamified behavioral intervention without manipulation designed to decrease negative attention bias). | Device | Gamified Placebo Training |
Primary outcome
Patient Health Questionnaire - 8 (PHQ-8)
Time frame: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
8-item self-report measure of depression symptom severity (Range: 0-24, higher scores indicate greater depression severity)
3 secondary outcomes
Ruminative Response Scale - Brooding Subscale (RRS-B)
Time frame: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) -"Difficult to Disengage From" Subscale
Time frame: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) Dysphoria Subscale
Time frame: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Jul 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified data will be made available upon study completion.
Related trials for Depression
Recruiting
Unified Protocol in Penitentiary Facilities
Depression Disorders, Anxiety
Not yet recruiting
Preventive and Personalized Digital Emotion Regulation Skills Intervention to Reduce Depression and Anxiety in Youths With Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experience, Depression / Major Depressive Disorder
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Functional Impact of Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome (SSCD): a National Cross-sectional Study
Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence
Recruiting
Trial Phase: Syndemic Adapted Medly Uganda
Mental Health
Recruiting
Cultural Adaptation of an Online Parenting Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents
Risk of Depression and Anxiety
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Gamified Attention Bias Modification in people with Depression, run by Christopher G. Beevers at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 6 Jul 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient Health Questionnaire - 8 (PHQ-8) (time frame: End of treatment (4 week treatment phase)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Jul 2026.