Working Memory Training for Dysphoric Students

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Depression is associated with impairments in executive functions, including working memory (WM) which is needed to maintain and manipulate goal-relevant information. Due to these WM impairments depressed individuals have difficulties inhibiting and shifting from irrelevant (negative) information and updating goal relevant information. This study explored whether training WM decreases these impairments and reduces clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety and rumination. Sixty-one students with an elevated score on the BDI-II, representing a dysphoric mood state, executed a working memory training (n = 34) or placebo training (n = 27). Before and after training their depression, anxiety, rumination and working memory were assessed. Furthermore, they executed a working memory task while their pupil dilation was measured to assess their fatigue. Moreover, the investigators compared the dysphoric students with a healthy student population on all measures.

Official Title
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Working Memory Training to Decrease Depression, Anxiety and Rumination in Dysphoric Students

Conditions
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Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Working memory training
* Behavioral: Placebo training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: BDI 10 of higher for dysphoric group BDI 5 or lower for healthy control group

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Working memory training<br>Participants executed the training for three weeks, three times a week, half an hour per session. The training was a game in which the participant was a person who had to become strong to fight with a fantasy figure. The person could become stronger when giving the right answers in eight different working memory tasks. The level adapted to the working memory capacity of the participant. | Behavioral: Working memory training<br> <br> |
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo training<br>Participants executed the training for three weeks, three times a week, half an hour per session. The training was a game in which the participant was a person who had to become strong to fight with a fantasy figure. The person could become stronger when giving the right answers in eight different working memory tasks. The level in the placebo condition was easy and did not adapt to the working memory capacity of the participant. | Behavioral: Placebo training<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II) score change between pre and post measurement | Depression is measured with the BDI-II | Pre training (baseline), post training (4 weeks after baseline, training starts 1 day after baseline) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores change from pre to post training measurement | The STAI measures state, trait and total anxiety | Pre training (baseline), post training (4 weeks after baseline, training starts 1 day after baseline) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Depression, Anxiety, Working memory, Rumination, Cognitive training, Executive functioning