An interventional study of Aversive white noise and Music reward in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), sponsored by Tel Aviv University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Israel. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-23.
Sponsored by Tel Aviv University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The main objective of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether a gaze-contingent feedback task using negative reinforcement can serve as an effective attention-modification procedure and contribute to the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
This randomized controlled trial uses a gaze-contingent attentional reinforcement task to modify attention allocation patterns to emotional stimuli in participants with Major Depressive Disorder. Specifically, participants will undergo 4 training sessions, during which either negative reinforcement (aversive white noise will be heard when gazing at sad faces) or positive reinforcement (music will be heard when gazing at happy faces) will be used to divert participants' gaze toward happy faces and away from sad faces. Depressive symptoms severity will be assessed before and after training (post-training and 3-month follow up) to examine changes (reduction) in symptom severity from before to after the intervention. Attention allocation will be assessed during training (i.e. online learning) as well as before and after training (i.e. transfer of learning).
2,741 studies on the registry are indexed under Depressive Disorder, Major; 559 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 80 across 2,283 interventional studies indexed under Depressive Disorder, Major.
Browse Depressive Disorder, Major studies →Tel Aviv University is the lead sponsor of 100 studies on the registry; 26 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
participants will receive gaze-contingent negative reinforcement according to their viewing patterns
Behavioral: Aversive white noise
participants will receive gaze-contingent positive reinforcement according to their viewing patterns
Behavioral: Music reward
Participants will receveve gaze-contingent negative-reinforcement feedback according to their viewing patterns, such that when gazing at the target stimuli (i.e., happy faces) the noise will stop.
Participants will receive gaze-contingent music-reward according to their viewing patterns, such that when gazing at the target stimuli (i.e., happy faces) the music will play.
MADRS- diagnostic interview scores
Change from baseline- the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating scale is a clinician-administered scale that includes 10 items that measure the severity of depressive symptoms. Each of the 10 items is scored on a 7-point scale (0-6). The total score, ranging from 0 to 60 is used to assess severity.
Time frame: Post-treatment (1 week after treatment completion) and 3-month follow up
PHQ-9 - self report measure
Change from baseline- the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is a nine-question self-report questionnaire to assess the severity of depression based on symptoms over the past two weeks. Each item is scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The overal score ranges from 0-27, indicating depression severity.
Time frame: Post-treatment (1 week after treatment completion) and 3-month follow up
Attention Allocation
Changes from baseline- attention allocation towards the target stimuli (happy faces) compared to the non-target stimuli (sad faces).
Time frame: Post-treatment (1 week after treatment completion) and 3-month follow up
M.I.N.I diagnosis- diagnostic interview
Changes in the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnosis. The M.I.N.I. is a structured diagnostic interview for DSM-5 and ICD-11 psychiatric disorders.
Time frame: Post-treatment (1 week after treatment completion) and 3-month follow up
Plan to share: No
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Tel Aviv University