Depressive SymptomsNCT05925816
Guided Feedback in an Online Game Impacts Decision Making
A study testing Video, Active game and Neutral game in people with Depressive Symptoms, run by Bard College at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the use of a text-based game as a way to understand decision making and knowledge related to anxiety, stress, and mood states like depression or loneliness. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Depressive Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Video, Active game and Neutral game
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 350 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 2 Feb 2022to 4 May 2022
- 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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18+ age
- Eligible to participate in online research
- Able to read and respond in English
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Understanding Decision Making Using a Text-based Game
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the use of a text-based game as a way to understand decision making and knowledge related to anxiety, stress, and mood states like depression or loneliness. The investigators are interested in identifying whether participants who are given feedback before and during the game will report changes in behavior or depressive symptoms over the course of a one-week period. This is a follow-up to the published study from the researchers.
- Conditions
- Depressive Symptoms
- Being tested
- Video, Active game, Neutral game
- Keywords
- depressive symptoms
- Medical subject headings
- Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
VideoBehavioural
Video uses BA techniques for approximately 5 minutes
Active gameBehavioural
Game provides positive feedback in response to decisions made by participants
Neutral gameBehavioural
Game without feedback
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Experimental | Short video with BA intervention ideas Receives: Behavioral: Video |
| Active game | Experimental | Feedback Twine game Receives: Behavioral: Active game |
| Neutral game | Sham comparator | Neutral Twine game Receives: Behavioral: Neutral game |
| No intervention | No intervention | Not described |
| Video + Active game | Experimental | Combines Video and Active game Receives: Behavioral: Video; Behavioral: Active game |
| Video + Neutral game | Active comparator | Combines Video and Neutral game Receives: Behavioral: Video; Behavioral: Neutral game |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
patient health questionnaire (PHQ; 8 items)
The PHQ measures depression; scores range from 0 to 24 with higher scores indicating more depression.
Measured: baseline (T0) - before intervention
patient health questionnaire (PHQ; 8 items)
The PHQ measures depression; scores range from 0 to 24 with higher scores indicating more depression.
Measured: one week following intervention (T1)
Behavior in study-specific game
For participants completing the game (neutral or active), behavior and choices made will be used as data for analyses. Game choices allow participants to decide what next activities they will "do" in the game. Analyses incorporate decision probabilities (which of 2-5 choices are selected) and compare them between conditions. The game is completed at baseline following assessment (and following video) for those assigned this arm only.
Measured: Completed at baseline (T0)
Secondary outcomes (2)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)
7-item measure of generalized anxiety; scores range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating more anxiety.
Measured: Baseline (T0) before intervention
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)
7-item measure of generalized anxiety; scores range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating more anxiety.
Measured: one-week follow-up (T1)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Jun 2023
- Study start2 Feb 2022
- Primary completion4 May 2022
- Study completion4 May 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depressive SymptomsStudies 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 350 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bard College
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Justin Dainer-Best, Bard College
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05925816
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2021NOV10-DAI
- Status last verified
- Jun 2023
- First submitted
- 14 Jun 2023
- Last updated
- 10 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data and code for analyses have been shared on the Open Science Framework, https://osf.io/
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Understanding Decision Making Using a Text-based Game
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05925816
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2021NOV10-DAI
- Conditions
- Depressive Symptoms
- Keywords
- depressive symptoms
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 350 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bard CollegeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 May 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 May 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 Jun 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.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the use of a text-based game as a way to understand decision making and knowledge related to anxiety, stress, and mood states like depression or loneliness. The investigators are interested in identifying whether participants who are given feedback before and during the game will report changes in behavior or depressive symptoms over the course of a one-week period. This is a follow-up to the published study from the researchers.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 6
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Experimental | Behavioral: VideoShort video with BA intervention ideas |
| Active game | Experimental | Behavioral: Active gameFeedback Twine game |
| Neutral game | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Neutral gameNeutral Twine game |
| No intervention | No intervention | – |
| Video + Active game | Experimental | Behavioral: Video, Behavioral: Active gameCombines Video and Active game |
| Video + Neutral game | Active comparator | Behavioral: Video, Behavioral: Neutral gameCombines Video and Neutral game |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 18+ age
- Eligible to participate in online research
- Able to read and respond in English
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
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 |
|---|---|---|
| VideoVideo uses BA techniques for approximately 5 minutes | Behavioural | Video, Video + Active game, Video + Neutral game |
| Active gameGame provides positive feedback in response to decisions made by participants | Behavioural | Active game, Video + Active game |
| Neutral gameGame without feedback | Behavioural | Neutral game, Video + Neutral game |
Primary outcome
patient health questionnaire (PHQ; 8 items)
Time frame: baseline (T0) - before intervention
The PHQ measures depression; scores range from 0 to 24 with higher scores indicating more depression.
patient health questionnaire (PHQ; 8 items)
Time frame: one week following intervention (T1)
The PHQ measures depression; scores range from 0 to 24 with higher scores indicating more depression.
Behavior in study-specific game
Time frame: Completed at baseline (T0)
For participants completing the game (neutral or active), behavior and choices made will be used as data for analyses. Game choices allow participants to decide what next activities they will "do" in the game. Analyses incorporate decision probabilities (which of 2-5 choices are selected) and compare them between conditions. The game is completed at baseline following assessment (and following video) for those assigned this arm only.
2 secondary outcomes
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)
Time frame: Baseline (T0) before intervention
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)
Time frame: one-week follow-up (T1)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data and code for analyses have been shared on the Open Science Framework, https://osf.io/
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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.
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 Video, Active game and Neutral game in people with Depressive Symptoms, run by Bard College 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 3 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jun 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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 (PHQ; 8 items) (time frame: baseline (T0) - before intervention). The study lists 3 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 10 Jun 2026.