Examining the Effectiveness of a Tablet Video Game on Mood and Cognition
Condition: Mood Disturbance; Depressive Symptoms
MeSH terms: Depression
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Sustained negative mood and depression are characterized by functional impairment, and
      significant reduction in quality of life. Cognitive models of depression emphasize the role
      of impaired cognitive control - the mental abilities determining goal directed behaviors - in
      contributing to depressive symptoms. Indeed, research findings from subclinical and clinical
      populations show that depressive symptoms are associated with decreased cognitive control
      abilities.

      The THRIVE trial is a double-blind, proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial (RCT). The
      aims of the study are to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of an innovative,
      custom-made tablet video game, Legends of Hoa'manu (LOH), which is designed to enhance
      cognitive control, in alleviating mood and improving cognitive control in adults.

      Participants with mild to major depressive symptoms will be randomized to receive either LoH
      or a control intervention. Cognitive control, mood and depressive symptoms will be assessed
      at baseline, post training, after at a 3-week and a 3-month follow up.
    

Detailed description: 
      Persistent negative mood, melancholy and depression are becoming more and more prevalent
      worldwide. Depression is linked to severe functional impairment, which can last for years,
      and to a significant reduction in quality of life. Current theoretical models of depression
      suggest that negative mood and depressive symptoms are associated with decreases in cognitive
      control abilities - the same brain mechanisms in the prefrontal cortex that underlie
      goal-directed behaviors. Specifically, difficulty in delaying a response to irrelevant
      negative information, or difficulty in removing irrelevant negative information from working
      memory, have all been found to be associated with and predictive of depressive symptoms.
      Indeed, research findings from subclinical and clinical populations show that depressive
      symptoms are associated with decreased cognitive control ability and decreased activity in
      the prefrontal cortex regions.

      In the present study, the investigators will examine whether training of cognitive control
      improves mood. Specifically, the investigators will test whether several weeks of training
      using a tablet video game targeting cognitive control improves depressive symptoms, mood, and
      cognitive control abilities measures among adults. Participants will be randomized to receive
      either a high or low dose of the intervention or a control intervention, and will be asked to
      train with their intervention remotely from home for 3 weeks. Outcomes will be assessed at
      baseline, at the completion of training and at two follow up points: 3 weeks and 3 months.
    

Intervention name(s): LOH game- high dose; LOH game- low dose; LOH sham game
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants will be asked to complete 15 half-hour training sessions, over 3 weeks, ie about 5 training sessions a week, and a total of 7.5 hours of training for 3 weeks.; Participants will be asked to complete 6 half-hour training sessions, over 3 weeks, ie about 2 training sessions a week, and a total of 3 hours of training for 3 weeks.; Participants will be asked to complete 15 half-hour training sessions, over three weeks, using sham version of the game. the sham version does not include components of cognitive training.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Cognitove Control; Video-games; Cognitive Control Training