DepressionNCT05771636
Mental Imagery and Psychological Well-being
A study testing Mental Imagery in people with Depression and Anhedonia, run by University of Liege at 1 site in Belgium.
Trial summary
This study aims to investigate the effects of mental imagery practice on depression, behavioral activation, psychological well-being and other processes involved in depression such as anhedonia. We use a multiple baseline design in addition to a pre-post and follow-up standardized assessment design. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression, Anhedonia
- What is being tested?
- Mental Imagery
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBelgium
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2023to Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- At least some symptoms of depression (minimal score of 8 on the depression subscale of the HADS)
Who cannot join
- Not ongoing psychotherapy at the time of the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Belgium1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Université de Liège
Liège, 4000
Ecaterina Lazari, master, +324/366.23.37, e.lazari@hotmail.com
About this study
Official title: Can Mental Imagery Increase Behavioral Activation ?
This study aims to investigate the effects of mental imagery practice on depression, behavioral activation, psychological well-being and other processes involved in depression such as anhedonia.
We use a multiple baseline design in addition to a pre-post and follow-up standardized assessment design.
Read the detailed description
The purpose of this study is to determine if daily practice of mental imagery improves psychological variables such as motivation, behavioral activation, depression, mood, optimism, anhedonia, and psychological well-being, and if it's combination with activity planning is more effective than activity planning alone. This study will analyze the effect of 2 mental imagery conditions (planned activity imagery, best possible self) and a control condition of activity planning alone, administered to a general population over a 2-week period.
Our hypotheses are an improvement for both experimental conditions (planned activities imagery and best possible self imagery) of mood, behavioral activation, depressive symptomatology, optimism, psychological well-being, cognitive and behavioral avoidance, and anhedonia, compared to the control condition. Several studies have been able to show the effect of either imagery condition on certain variables (notably behavioral activation and mood for the planned activity imagery as well as optimism and mood for the best possible self), but the interest of our study is to assess the effect of each of the proposed protocols on a broader range of variables. This will allow us to determine the specific effect of each protocol as well as to compare their effectiveness.
In this study we will recruit 120 participants, randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) mental imagery of planned activities, (2) mental imagery of best possible self, (3) planned activity control group. All participants will be asked to complete a series of standardized assessments in 4 steps (at the first meeting, at the second meeting 15 days later, and a follow-up at 1 and 3 months post-intervention). The questionnaires will assess depression, behavioral activation, mood, optimism, imagery skills, anhedonia, and psychological well-being.
In each group, participants will have to think about 4 activities to be implemented within the next two weeks, and answer about 10 questions about the chosen activities (rated from 0 to 10 on a visual analogical scale). These questions evaluate, among other things, the motivation, the anticipated effort, the anticipated pleasure, and the degree of avoidance related to each activity using a visual analog scale. This questionnaire will be completed at the first meeting and also after the completion of each activity, at home. The protocol is identical for each condition except for the content of the imagery exercise or no imagery exercise for the control condition. The participants in the experimental conditions will be instructed to repeat the 5-minute imagery exercise at home every day for 2 weeks and report in a booklet everyday their rating of the imagery exercise (vividness, difficulty and their mood after the exercise).
At a second meeting 2 weeks later, all participants will be asked to complete the standardized assessments again and report whether or not the planned activities were completed, as well as conduct a semi-structured interview about their experience, the feasibility and difficulty of the task. Participants will then receive a follow-up survey by e-mail at 1 and 3 months post-intervention, in which they will again be asked to complete the selected standardized questionnaires. The booklets in which they reported the questionnaires about their planned activities (all conditions) and the ratings of imagery exercise (for experimental conditions) will be brought back on that meeting.
- Conditions
- Depression, Anhedonia
- Being tested
- Mental Imagery, Control condition (activity planification)
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anhedonia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mental ImageryBehavioural
Mental Imagery consists of imagining a situation in the most vivid way possible, including all sensory modalities (visual image, sensations, smells, sounds, emotions). It can be used to act as a motivational amplifier, by pre-experimenting a situation in imagination.
The best possible self imagery consists of imagining the best version possible of one's self , after accomplishing all their major life goals, in a future where everything turned out the best way possible. What does this best version of you do, in terms of actions, on an everyday basis ? The planned imagery exercise consists of rehearsing an activity in a mental way, before actually doing it. It can help to visualize the outcome of this activity and benefits it can provide to the participant before actually getting it done.
Control condition (activity planification)Behavioural
The participant identifies 4 activities that he plans to do in the course of the next 2 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental G1 - imagery of planned activity | Experimental | In this condition, the participant will have to think about 4 activities he will plan to do during the next 2 weeks. He will then complete a questionnaire about all the activities he identified and think about the major obstacle that could prevent him to do each activity, and a solution for each one. Then he will proceed to a mental imagery exercise where he imagines doing the activity as vividly as possible. He then will proceed to go home and repeat the imagery practice every day for the next two weeks, and do the planned activities. He will report in a booklet ratings of the mental imagery exercise and the activities he did. Receives: Behavioral: Mental Imagery |
| Experimental G2 - imagery of best possible self | Experimental | In this condition, the participant will first have to do a mental imagery exercise where he imagines his best possible self, having accomplished all his big life goals, as vividly as possible. He will then have to think about 4 activities he will plan to do during the next 2 weeks, in line with the imagery exercise. He will then complete a questionnaire about all the activities he identified. He then will proceed to go home and repeat the imagery practice every day for the next two weeks, and do the planned activities. He will report in a booklet ratings of the mental imagery exercise and the activities he did. Receives: Behavioral: Mental Imagery |
| Control G3 - activity planification alone | Active comparator | In this condition, the participant will have to think about 4 activities he will plan to do during the next 2 weeks. He will then complete a questionnaire about all the activities he identified. There is no mental imagery exercise in this condition. He then will proceed to go home and receive the assignment to do the planned activities in the course of the next two weeks. He will report in a booklet ratings of the activities he did. Receives: Behavioral: Control condition (activity planification) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Depressive symptomatology
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Measured: Baseline
Depressive symptomatology
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Measured: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
Depressive symptomatology
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Measured: 1 month after end of treatment
Depressive symptomatology
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Measured: 3 months after end of treatment
Behavioral activation
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
Measured: Baseline
Behavioral activation
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
Measured: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
Behavioral activation
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
Measured: 1 month after end of treatment
Behavioral activation
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
Measured: 3 months after end of treatment
LOT
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
Measured: Baseline
LOT
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
Measured: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
LOT
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
Measured: 1 month after end of treatment
LOT
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
Measured: 3 months after end of treatment
PANAS
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Measured: Baseline
PANAS
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Measured: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
PANAS
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
Measured: 1 month after end of treatment
PANAS
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much).
Measured: 3 months after end of treatment
Anhedonia
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Measured: Baseline
Anhedonia
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Measured: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
Anhedonia
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Measured: 1 month after end of treatment
Anhedonia
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Measured: 3 months after end of treatment
Well-being
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Measured: Baseline
Well-being
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Measured: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
Well-being
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Measured: 1 month after end of treatment
Well-being
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Measured: 3 months after end of treatment
Mental Imagery ability
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
Measured: Baseline
Mental Imagery ability
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
Measured: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
Mental Imagery ability
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
Measured: 1 month after end of treatment
Mental Imagery ability
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
Measured: 3 months after end of treatment
Secondary outcomes (27)
self concordant motivation
The self concordance motivation scale is a scale in which the participant rates his motivation to pursue a goal based on 4 different reasons (external, introjected, identified and intrinsic) on a scale from 1 to 9, designed to measure if the motivation of a person relative to his goals is intrinsic or extrinsic.
The self-concordance variable is calculated by averaging the intrinsic and identified ratings and subtracting the average external and introjected ratings. A higher score means higher self-concordance (better outcome)
Measured: Baseline
Motivation to do this activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Motivation to do this activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Positive anticipation of the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Positive anticipation of the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated pleasure resulting in the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Anticipated pleasure resulting in the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated satisfaction resulting in the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Anticipated satisfaction resulting in the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated Gratification resulting in the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Anticipated Gratification resulting in the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated difficulty to do the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, better outcome) to 10 (maximum, worse outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Anticipated difficulty to do the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, better outcome) to 10 (maximum, worse outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Avoidance of the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, better outcome) to 10 (maximum, worse outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Avoidance of the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, better outcome) to 10 (maximum, worse outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Importance of the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Importance of the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Difficulty to find time to do the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, better outcome) to 10 (maximum, worse outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Baseline
Difficulty to find time to do the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, better outcome) to 10 (maximum, worse outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived difficulty after doing the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived mood after doing the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived pleasure after doing the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived satisfaction after doing the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived gratification after doing the activity
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Difficulty of the mental imagery exercise
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Everyday at home during the two weeks intervention period, right after doing the imagery exercise (reporting in the booklet, at home)
Mood after doing the mental imagery exercise
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Everyday at home during the two weeks intervention period, right after doing the imagery exercise (reporting in the booklet, at home)
Vividness of the mental imagery exercise
Assessment on a scale from 0 (minimum, worse outcome) to 10 (maximum, better outcome) of the effects and costs of this activity perceived by the participant. The question is asked for each identified activity.
Measured: Everyday at home during the two weeks intervention period, right after doing the imagery exercise (reporting in the booklet, at home)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Mar 2023
- Study start1 Mar 2023
- Primary completionMay 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- 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
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Liege
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ecaterina Lazari, University of Liege
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05771636
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1959-827
- Status last verified
- May 2023
- First submitted
- 1 Mar 2023
- Last updated
- 11 May 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 May 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Can Mental Imagery Increase Behavioral Activation ?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05771636
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1959-827
- Conditions
- Depression, Anhedonia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LiegeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- May 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to investigate the effects of mental imagery practice on depression, behavioral activation, psychological well-being and other processes involved in depression such as anhedonia.
We use a multiple baseline design in addition to a pre-post and follow-up standardized assessment design.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study is to determine if daily practice of mental imagery improves psychological variables such as motivation, behavioral activation, depression, mood, optimism, anhedonia, and psychological well-being, and if it's combination with activity planning is more effective than activity planning alone. This study will analyze the effect of 2 mental imagery conditions (planned activity imagery, best possible self) and a control condition of activity planning alone, administered to a general population over a 2-week period.
Our hypotheses are an improvement for both experimental conditions (planned activities imagery and best possible self imagery) of mood, behavioral activation, depressive symptomatology, optimism, psychological well-being, cognitive and behavioral avoidance, and anhedonia, compared to the control condition. Several studies have been able to show the effect of either imagery condition on certain variables (notably behavioral activation and mood for the planned activity imagery as well as optimism and mood for the best possible self), but the interest of our study is to assess the effect of each of the proposed protocols on a broader range of variables. This will allow us to determine the specific effect of each protocol as well as to compare their effectiveness.
In this study we will recruit 120 participants, randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) mental imagery of planned activities, (2) mental imagery of best possible self, (3) planned activity control group. All participants will be asked to complete a series of standardized assessments in 4 steps (at the first meeting, at the second meeting 15 days later, and a follow-up at 1 and 3 months post-intervention). The questionnaires will assess depression, behavioral activation, mood, optimism, imagery skills, anhedonia, and psychological well-being.
In each group, participants will have to think about 4 activities to be implemented within the next two weeks, and answer about 10 questions about the chosen activities (rated from 0 to 10 on a visual analogical scale). These questions evaluate, among other things, the motivation, the anticipated effort, the anticipated pleasure, and the degree of avoidance related to each activity using a visual analog scale. This questionnaire will be completed at the first meeting and also after the completion of each activity, at home. The protocol is identical for each condition except for the content of the imagery exercise or no imagery exercise for the control condition. The participants in the experimental conditions will be instructed to repeat the 5-minute imagery exercise at home every day for 2 weeks and report in a booklet everyday their rating of the imagery exercise (vividness, difficulty and their mood after the exercise).
At a second meeting 2 weeks later, all participants will be asked to complete the standardized assessments again and report whether or not the planned activities were completed, as well as conduct a semi-structured interview about their experience, the feasibility and difficulty of the task. Participants will then receive a follow-up survey by e-mail at 1 and 3 months post-intervention, in which they will again be asked to complete the selected standardized questionnaires. The booklets in which they reported the questionnaires about their planned activities (all conditions) and the ratings of imagery exercise (for experimental conditions) will be brought back on that meeting.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental G1 - imagery of planned activity | Experimental | Behavioral: Mental ImageryIn this condition, the participant will have to think about 4 activities he will plan to do during the next 2 weeks. He will then complete a questionnaire about all the activities he identified and think about the major obstacle that could prevent him to do each activity, and a solution for each one. Then he will proceed to a mental imagery exercise where he imagines doing the activity as vividly as possible. He then will proceed to go home and repeat the imagery practice every day for the next two weeks, and do the planned activities. He will report in a booklet ratings of the mental imagery exercise and the activities he did. |
| Experimental G2 - imagery of best possible self | Experimental | Behavioral: Mental ImageryIn this condition, the participant will first have to do a mental imagery exercise where he imagines his best possible self, having accomplished all his big life goals, as vividly as possible. He will then have to think about 4 activities he will plan to do during the next 2 weeks, in line with the imagery exercise. He will then complete a questionnaire about all the activities he identified. He then will proceed to go home and repeat the imagery practice every day for the next two weeks, and do the planned activities. He will report in a booklet ratings of the mental imagery exercise and the activities he did. |
| Control G3 - activity planification alone | Active comparator | Behavioral: Control condition (activity planification)In this condition, the participant will have to think about 4 activities he will plan to do during the next 2 weeks. He will then complete a questionnaire about all the activities he identified. There is no mental imagery exercise in this condition. He then will proceed to go home and receive the assignment to do the planned activities in the course of the next two weeks. He will report in a booklet ratings of the activities he did. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- At least some symptoms of depression (minimal score of 8 on the depression subscale of the HADS)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Not ongoing psychotherapy at the time of the study
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mental ImageryMental Imagery consists of imagining a situation in the most vivid way possible, including all sensory modalities (visual image, sensations, smells, sounds, emotions). It can be used to act as a motivational amplifier, by pre-experimenting a situation in imagination. The best possible self imagery consists of imagining the best version possible of one's self , after accomplishing all their major life goals, in a future where everything turned out the best way possible. What does this best version of you do, in terms of actions, on an everyday basis ? The planned imagery exercise consists of rehearsing an activity in a mental way, before actually doing it. It can help to visualize the outcome of this activity and benefits it can provide to the participant before actually getting it done. | Behavioural | Experimental G1 - imagery of planned activity, Experimental G2 - imagery of best possible self |
| Control condition (activity planification)The participant identifies 4 activities that he plans to do in the course of the next 2 weeks. | Behavioural | Control G3 - activity planification alone |
Primary outcome
Depressive symptomatology
Time frame: Baseline
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Depressive symptomatology
Time frame: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Depressive symptomatology
Time frame: 1 month after end of treatment
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Depressive symptomatology
Time frame: 3 months after end of treatment
The Beck depression inventory- second edition (BDI-II) is a 21-items scale that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms during the last two weeks. The score may range from 0 to 63. Higher score indicates higher depressive symptoms (worse outcome).
Behavioral activation
Time frame: Baseline
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
Behavioral activation
Time frame: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
Behavioral activation
Time frame: 1 month after end of treatment
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
Behavioral activation
Time frame: 3 months after end of treatment
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) is a 25-items scale that assesses behavioral activation. Five subscales have been identified: Activation, Behavioral Avoidance, Rumination, Work/School Impairment and Social Impairment. Activation may range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater activation level (better outcome)
LOT
Time frame: Baseline
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
LOT
Time frame: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
LOT
Time frame: 1 month after end of treatment
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
LOT
Time frame: 3 months after end of treatment
The Life Orientation Test (Revised) is a 10-items scale assesses one's dispositional level of optimism, providing meaningful insight into possible interventions, such as those to address harmful thought patterns. Scores can range from 0 to 24, being 0-13 Low Optimism, 14-18 Moderate Optimism, 19-24 High Optimism.
PANAS
Time frame: Baseline
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
PANAS
Time frame: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
PANAS
Time frame: 1 month after end of treatment
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
PANAS
Time frame: 3 months after end of treatment
The Positive affect negative affect scale consists of two 10-item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much).
Anhedonia
Time frame: Baseline
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Anhedonia
Time frame: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Anhedonia
Time frame: 1 month after end of treatment
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Anhedonia
Time frame: 3 months after end of treatment
The Savoring belief Inventory (SBI) is an 24-items scale assessing individuals' attitudes regarding savoring positive experiences. Three subscales related to three temporal orientations are identified, one related to the past (reminiscence), one related to the present moment (present), and one related to the future (anticipation) each represented by 8 items. Higher scores indicate higher level of approach and savor pleasant events (better outcome).
Well-being
Time frame: Baseline
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Well-being
Time frame: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Well-being
Time frame: 1 month after end of treatment
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Well-being
Time frame: 3 months after end of treatment
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) is a 14-items scale assessing mental well-being. The score may range from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate higher mental well-being (better outcome).
Mental Imagery ability
Time frame: Baseline
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
Mental Imagery ability
Time frame: Two weeks after beginning of treatment (end of treatment)
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
Mental Imagery ability
Time frame: 1 month after end of treatment
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
Mental Imagery ability
Time frame: 3 months after end of treatment
The Plymouth Sensory Imagery questionnaire is a 35 items scale measuring the vividness of mental imagery in seven different modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensation, and emotion. There is a sub-score for every modality, with score ranging from 5 to 50 (better outcome) and a total score ranging from 35 to 350 (better outcome) higher score indicating higher imagery ability.
27 secondary outcomes
self concordant motivation
Time frame: Baseline
Motivation to do this activity
Time frame: Baseline
Motivation to do this activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Positive anticipation of the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Positive anticipation of the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated pleasure resulting in the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Anticipated pleasure resulting in the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated satisfaction resulting in the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Anticipated satisfaction resulting in the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated Gratification resulting in the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Anticipated Gratification resulting in the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Anticipated difficulty to do the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Anticipated difficulty to do the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Avoidance of the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Avoidance of the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Importance of the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Importance of the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Difficulty to find time to do the activity
Time frame: Baseline
Difficulty to find time to do the activity
Time frame: Right before doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived difficulty after doing the activity
Time frame: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived mood after doing the activity
Time frame: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived pleasure after doing the activity
Time frame: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived satisfaction after doing the activity
Time frame: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Perceived gratification after doing the activity
Time frame: Right after doing the activity (during the two weeks intervention, reporting in the booklet, at home)
Difficulty of the mental imagery exercise
Time frame: Everyday at home during the two weeks intervention period, right after doing the imagery exercise (reporting in the booklet, at home)
Mood after doing the mental imagery exercise
Time frame: Everyday at home during the two weeks intervention period, right after doing the imagery exercise (reporting in the booklet, at home)
Vividness of the mental imagery exercise
Time frame: Everyday at home during the two weeks intervention period, right after doing the imagery exercise (reporting in the booklet, at home)
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 May 2023.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mental Imagery in people with Depression and Anhedonia, run by University of Liege at 1 site in Belgium.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 May 2023. 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 Belgium. 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. 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?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ecaterina Lazari, master degree (+324/366.23.37, e.lazari@uliege.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Depressive symptomatology (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 28 primary outcomes in all. 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 11 May 2023.