Positive AffectPhase 2NCT07219875
Training Reward Responsiveness Through Virtual Reality
A Phase 2 study testing Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) and Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) in people with Positive Affect and Depression, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Positive Affect, Depression
- What is being tested?
- Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) and Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 21 May 2025to Jun 2027
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- At least 18 years old
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Meet all of the following dimensional score cutoffs:
- Score on the DASS-21 depression subscale must be ≥ 8
- Score on the PANAS-P of 27 or lower
- Score on the WSAS of ≥ 11
Who cannot join
- Lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, intellectual/developmental disability, or organic brain damage
- Substance use disorder in the past 6 months
- Current use of psychotropic medications
- Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- Self-reported frequent motion sickness
- Self-reported seizures within the last year and/or a diagnosis of epilepsy
- Self-reported color blindness or vision that is not corrected to normal
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, 90095
Ivy Xiao, B.S., 424-293-9615, vrtrainingucla@proton.me
Michelle Craske, PhD
About this study
Official title: Virtual Reality Training Study
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms.
VR-RT is a novel intervention aimed at enhancing savoring of positive experiences among individuals with elevated depression and low positive affect through guided imaginal recounting following immersion in positive VR experiences. The current study tests an enhanced version of this training using improved virtual reality technology.
Read more
Target enrollment is 80 participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomly assigned to 4 weeks of either VR-RT or VR-MT. Participants will complete in-person VR sessions, laboratory assessments, and self-report questionnaires as part of the study.
The total length of participation is around 3 months.
Read the detailed description
Anhedonia, or loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities, has been relatively resistant to pharmacological and psychological treatments in the context of anxiety and depression. Newer treatments that focus upon positivity or reward sensitivity have shown promising results.
The purpose of the current randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms. VR-RT is designed to augment reward sensitivity in individuals with elevated depression and low positive affect. Targets include reward anticipation and initial response to reward. Specificity of target engagement is assessed by comparison with VR-MT designed to train memory.
Targets and clinical outcomes are assessed at Week 0 Assessment (Week 0), mid-treatment (Week 3), post-treatment (1 week after Session 8, Week 5), and follow-up (Week 9). Statistical models evaluate whether change in outcomes and change in target measures are greater as a result of VR-RT compared to VR-MT.
Target enrollment is 80 participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomized to VR-RT or VR-MT, each comprising 8 individual virtual reality training sessions over the course of 4 weeks.
Participants will complete laboratory tests and self-report questionnaires as part of the study. Total length of participation is around 3 months.
- Conditions
- Positive Affect, Depression
- Being tested
- Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT), Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)
- Medical subject headings
- Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT)Behavioural
Participants complete positive VR experiences followed by written and coach-guided imaginal recounting of rewarding details. Recounting emphasizes a first-person, present-tense perspective and attention to positive sensory and emotional features of the experience. Participants also complete written and audio-guided exercises involving positive autobiographical memories.
Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)Behavioural
Participants complete VR-based memory exercises requiring attention to and memory for objects of a specific color. Following VR experiences, participants complete written and coach-guided verbal recall emphasizing objective details. Participants also complete written and audio-guided neutral word-list memorization and recall exercises.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) | Experimental | 8 sessions of positive VR immersion and exercises designed to guide savoring of rewarding details, followed by exercises to savor rewarding features of autobiographical memory Receives: Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) |
| Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) | Active comparator | 8 sessions of VR immersion and memory exercises, designed to train memory of objective non-emotional details, followed by neutral word-list memorization exercises. Receives: Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire - Anhedonic Depression Subscale (MASQ-AD)
Change in reported anhedonia (score range: 14-70), with higher scores indicating greater anhedonic symptom severity
Measured: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Positive Valence Systems Scale (PVSS-21)
Change in reward anticipation, motivation, and consumption for rewards such as food, physical touch, positive feedback, social interactions, hobbies and goals (score range: 21-105). Higher scores (e.g. 105) indicate higher reward responsiveness.
Measured: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Secondary outcomes (5)
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21)
Reported symptoms of depression (score range: 0-21), anxiety (score range: 0-21), and stress (score range: 0-21), higher scores indicate higher severity and frequency.
Measured: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Heart Rate Variability
Change in heart rate variability (HRV). Resting heart rate variability will be collected during a 5-minute period at assessment points. These data will be collected via a polar heart rate monitor synchronized with an ActiGraph device.
Measured: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
State Affect
A Visual Analogue Scale for Affect will be completed throughout the VR session, which assesses state affect before and after VR scenes and recountings. Higher scores (score range: 1-9) indicate higher positive affect.
Measured: Change from pre-VR session to post-VR session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form (PANAS-X)
The PANAS-X is a comprehensive measure comprised of 60 items assessing positive affect and negative affect. The PANAS-X will be administered at each assessment point
Measured: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Responses to Positive Affect Questionnaire (RPA)
Change in cognitive responses to positive affect, assessed using three subscales: Dampening (score range: 8-32), Emotion-Focused Positive Rumination (score range: 5-20), and Self-Focused Positive Rumination (score range: 4-16). Higher scores indicate greater use of the response style represented by each subscale.
Measured: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Oct 2025
- Study start21 May 2025
- Primary completionJun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Positive AffectStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, Los AngelesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michelle Craske, University of California, Los Angeles
- Investigators
- Michelle Craske, Principal investigator, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07219875
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-22-0269
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Virtual Reality Training Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07219875
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB-22-0269
- Conditions
- Positive Affect, Depression
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Oct 2025 (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 this study is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms.
VR-RT is a novel intervention aimed at enhancing savoring of positive experiences among individuals with elevated depression and low positive affect through guided imaginal recounting following immersion in positive VR experiences. The current study tests an enhanced version of this training using improved virtual reality technology.
Target enrollment is 80 participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomly assigned to 4 weeks of either VR-RT or VR-MT. Participants will complete in-person VR sessions, laboratory assessments, and self-report questionnaires as part of the study.
The total length of participation is around 3 months.
Detailed description
Anhedonia, or loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities, has been relatively resistant to pharmacological and psychological treatments in the context of anxiety and depression. Newer treatments that focus upon positivity or reward sensitivity have shown promising results.
The purpose of the current randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms. VR-RT is designed to augment reward sensitivity in individuals with elevated depression and low positive affect. Targets include reward anticipation and initial response to reward. Specificity of target engagement is assessed by comparison with VR-MT designed to train memory.
Targets and clinical outcomes are assessed at Week 0 Assessment (Week 0), mid-treatment (Week 3), post-treatment (1 week after Session 8, Week 5), and follow-up (Week 9). Statistical models evaluate whether change in outcomes and change in target measures are greater as a result of VR-RT compared to VR-MT.
Target enrollment is 80 participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomized to VR-RT or VR-MT, each comprising 8 individual virtual reality training sessions over the course of 4 weeks.
Participants will complete laboratory tests and self-report questionnaires as part of the study. Total length of participation is around 3 months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) | Experimental | Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT)8 sessions of positive VR immersion and exercises designed to guide savoring of rewarding details, followed by exercises to savor rewarding features of autobiographical memory |
| Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)8 sessions of VR immersion and memory exercises, designed to train memory of objective non-emotional details, followed by neutral word-list memorization exercises. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- At least 18 years old
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Meet all of the following dimensional score cutoffs:
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, intellectual/developmental disability, or organic brain damage
- Substance use disorder in the past 6 months
- Current use of psychotropic medications
- Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- Self-reported frequent motion sickness
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT)Participants complete positive VR experiences followed by written and coach-guided imaginal recounting of rewarding details. Recounting emphasizes a first-person, present-tense perspective and attention to positive sensory and emotional features of the experience. Participants also complete written and audio-guided exercises involving positive autobiographical memories. | Behavioural | Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) |
| Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT)Participants complete VR-based memory exercises requiring attention to and memory for objects of a specific color. Following VR experiences, participants complete written and coach-guided verbal recall emphasizing objective details. Participants also complete written and audio-guided neutral word-list memorization and recall exercises. | Behavioural | Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) |
Primary outcome
The Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire - Anhedonic Depression Subscale (MASQ-AD)
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Change in reported anhedonia (score range: 14-70), with higher scores indicating greater anhedonic symptom severity
Positive Valence Systems Scale (PVSS-21)
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Change in reward anticipation, motivation, and consumption for rewards such as food, physical touch, positive feedback, social interactions, hobbies and goals (score range: 21-105). Higher scores (e.g. 105) indicate higher reward responsiveness.
5 secondary outcomes
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21)
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Heart Rate Variability
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
State Affect
Time frame: Change from pre-VR session to post-VR session
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form (PANAS-X)
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Responses to Positive Affect Questionnaire (RPA)
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
Michelle Craske principal investigator
University of California, Los Angeles
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) and Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT) in people with Positive Affect and Depression, run by University of California, Los Angeles 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 6 inclusion and 7 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Oct 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ivy Q Xiao, B.S. (4242939615, ivyxiao@psych.ucla.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire - Anhedonic Depression Subscale (MASQ-AD) (time frame: Week 0 (baseline), Week 3 (mid-training), Week 5 (post-training), and Week 9 (follow-up). Primary comparisons are change from Week 0 to Week 5 and from Week 0 to Week 9.). The study lists 2 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 16 Oct 2026.