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Recruiting NCT05617495

NCT05617495 Mindfulness-Based fMRI Neurofeedback for Depression

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT05617495
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor Columbia University
Condition Depression in Adolescence
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 90 participants
Start Date 2024-04-10
Primary Completion 2027-01-31

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 13 Years
Max Age 18 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Mindfulness + fMRI Neurofeedback

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

This trial targets 90 participants in total. It began in 2024-04-10 with a primary completion date of 2027-01-31.

⚠ 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

In the United States, adolescents experience alarmingly high rates of major depression, and gold-standard treatments are only effective for approximately half of patients. Rumination may be a promising treatment target, as it is well-characterized at the neural level and contributes to depression onset, maintenance, and recurrence as well as predicts treatment non-response. Accordingly, the proposed research will investigate whether an innovative mindfulness-based real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback intervention successfully elicits change in the brain circuit underlying rumination to improve clinical outcomes among depressed adolescents.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 13-18 years-old * Written informed assent/consent and parental/guardian permission for 13-17 year-olds or informed consent for 18 year-olds * Tanner puberty stage ≥3 * Meets current diagnostic criteria for MDD * English fluency Exclusion Criteria: * Lifetime history of primary psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, developmental disorder (e.g., autism), post-traumatic stress disorder, or eating disorders * Substance use disorder, moderate or severe in past 6 months * Active suicidal ideation with a specific plan * History of seizure disorder * Medical or neurological illness (e.g., severe head injury) * MRI contraindications * Current psychotropic medication use other than antidepressant medication * Intelligence quotient (IQ) \<80.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Randy P Auerbach, PhD

✉ rpa2009@cumc.columbia.edu

📞 646-774-5745

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT05617495 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 13 Years or older, up to 18 Years, studying Depression in Adolescence. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT05617495 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT05617495 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at rpa2009@cumc.columbia.edu for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT05617495 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Boston, United States, New York, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT05617495 clinical trial?

NCT05617495 is sponsored by Columbia University. The trial plans to enroll 90 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology