EXperimental Paradigm to Investigate Expectation Change in Depression 4

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Research has shown that people with depressive symptoms maintain negative expectations even if they have positive experiences that contradict their expectations. Healthy people, however, change their expectations after unexpected positive experiences. In this experimental study, it will now be examined whether there are also differences between healthy people and people with depressive symptoms in dealing with unexpected negative experiences.

Detailed Description
-----------------
Research has already shown that people with depressive symptoms continue to hold on to negative expectations even if they have positive experiences that contradict their expectations. By contrast, healthy people change their expectations after unexpectedly positive experiences. In this experimental study, the authors will now examine whether there are also differences between healthy people and people with depressive symptoms in processing unexpectedly negative experiences. It is hypothesized that people with depressive symptoms change their expectations in a negative direction after unexpectedly negative experiences, while healthy people continue to hold on to an optimistic view.

Official Title
-----------------
Worse Than Expected - Differences Between Healthy and Depressed People in Processing Unexpectedly Negative Information

Conditions
-----------------
Major Depressive Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Expectation confirmation
* Behavioral: Expectation disconfirmation


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria (clinical sample): diagnosis of major depression at least 18 years old sufficient German language skills Exclusion Criteria (clinical sample): participation in previous studies on changes in expectations Inclusion Criteria (healthy sample): at least 18 years old sufficient German language skills Exclusion Criteria (clinical sample): participation in previous studies on changes in expectations current diagnosis of any mental disorder diagnosis of major depression in the past currently receiving psychotherapeutic treatment

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants are assigned to one of two experimental groups in parallel for the duration of the study
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Expectation confirmation<br>The participants in this group receive manipulated feedback indicating that their performance was very good in the test they had previously worked on. This feedback is intended to confirm the previously induced positive expectations of their own performance. | Behavioral: Expectation confirmation<br>* Participants receive manipulated feedback indicating that their performance was above average in the test they had previously worked on. This feedback is intended to confirm the previously induced positive expectations of their own performance.<br>|
| Experimental: Expectation disconfirmation<br>The participants in this group receive manipulated feedback indicating that their performance was below average in the test they had previously worked on. This feedback is intended to negatively disconfirm the previously induced positive expectations of their own performance. | Behavioral: Expectation disconfirmation<br>* Participants receive manipulated feedback indicating that their performance was below average in the test they had previously worked on. This feedback is intended to negatively disconfirm the previously induced positive expectations of their own performance.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2-Item Performance Expectations Scale - generalized | Changes from baseline to postassessment in generalized performance expectations. Each item is scored from 1 to 7 (1 = very negative expectations, 7 = very positive expectations), yielding a total score between 2 and 14. Higher total scores reflect more positive expectations. | Immediately before the performance test and immediately after completion of the performance test | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2-Item Performance Expectations Scale - task-specific | Changes from baseline to postassessment in task-specific performance expectations. Each item is scored from 1 to 7 (1 = very negative expectations, 7 = very positive expectations), yielding a total score between 2 and 14. Higher total scores reflect more positive expectations. | Immediately before the performance test and immediately after completion of the performance test |