| NCT ID | NCT07513766 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Ghent |
| Condition | Repetitive Negative Thinking |
| Study Type | OBSERVATIONAL |
| Enrollment | 100 participants |
| Start Date | 2024-06-05 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-03-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.
This trial targets 100 participants in total. It began in 2024-06-05 with a primary completion date of 2026-03-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to understand why some people become stuck in repetitive negative thinking, which is common among individuals with depression and anxiety. Repetitive negative thinking involves repeatedly focusing on negative events, worries, or problems. These thoughts can be difficult to control and may worsen emotional distress and daily functioning. Researchers believe that repetitive negative thinking may be related to changes in how different brain networks communicate with each other. This study will examine how the brain responds during emotion regulation tasks in people who tend to ruminate compared with healthy individuals. To do this, researchers will use a brain-imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This method measures brain activity using harmless infrared light while participants perform tasks on a computer. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How does the brain respond to emotional situations in people who experience repetitive negative thinking? Are there differences in brain activity between people with depression or anxiety and healthy individuals during emotion regulation? Participants will include 50 healthy volunteers and 50 individuals with depression or anxiety who experience repetitive negative thinking. Participants will: Wear a lightweight brain-imaging device (fNIRS) placed on the head to measure brain activity Complete computer tasks involving emotional images and different emotion-regulation strategies, such as reinterpreting, suppressing, or distracting from emotions Listen to different types of spoken feedback (criticism, praise, or neutral comments) and imagine receiving them from someone they know Report their emotional feelings during the tasks Complete several questionnaires about mood, thinking patterns, and emotional experiences During the experiment, researchers will also record physiological responses such as heart activity and skin reactions, which are related to emotional responses. The results of this study may help researchers better understand the brain mechanisms underlying rumination and may contribute to the development of more effective treatments for depression and anxiety.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient group: diagnosis of depression/GAD * Healthy control group: no history of or current form of psychopathology
Contact & Investigator
Chris Baeken
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University Ghent
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07513766 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 65 Years, studying Repetitive Negative Thinking. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07513766 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07513766 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at Chris.Baeken@ugent.be for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07513766 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Ghent, Belgium.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07513766 clinical trial?
NCT07513766 is sponsored by University Hospital, Ghent. The principal investigator is Chris Baeken at University Ghent. The trial plans to enroll 100 participants.