๐Ÿ›๏ธ Verified NIH Record โ€ข Updated 2026-04-27

Regulation of Affect and Physiology in Depression (NCT06345859)

Ambulatory Phenotyping With Real-Time Indices of Discordant Affect Regulation: Exploring Opportunities for Targeted Intervention in Depression

๐ŸŸข Recruiting Phase2 ๐Ÿง  Behavioral & Psychological Program Sponsor: University of Southern California

๐Ÿฉบ Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

Although treatments for depression are effective for many people, not everyone responds to treatment. This lack of treatment response could be due, in part, to the presence of multiple underlying causes of people's depression. This study aims to identify subtypes of depression, based on two factors: how successful people perceive themselves to be at regulating their affect in everyday life; and how much activity in the parasympathetic nervous system increases during moments when people try to regulate. The study involves ambulatory assessment of affect, regulation strategies, and physiological activity in everyday life, in a sample of young adults with remitted major depressive disorder and healthy volunteers. We will study regulation responses in the lab to further determine how subtypes differ in neural, physiological, and behavioral responses. Finally, participants will be randomly assigned to a remote, self-administered biofeedback intervention (vs. control intervention) designed to increase parasympathetic activity and physiological regulation success. While engaging in biofeedback at home for 10 days, participants will simultaneously repeat the ambulatory assessments. This design will allow us to determine the proximal impact of biofeedback on indices of regulation success in everyday life, and whether biofeedback has differential impact on regulation success for different subtypes.

Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.

Location: University of Southern California โ€” Los Angeles, California

Age range: 18 Years to 27 Years

๐Ÿงช Interventions in This Study

  • Heart rate variability biofeedback (BEHAVIORAL)

๐Ÿ“‹ "Do I Qualify?" โ€” 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Full eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria โ†—

๐Ÿ“ All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)

  • University of Southern California โ€” Los Angeles, California

๐Ÿ“ž Contact the Study Coordinator

Phone: (213) 740-4503

Email: carlab@usc.edu

Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

  • 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
  • Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA ยง 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
  • Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

๐Ÿ’ก How to Participate

  1. Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
  2. Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
  3. Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
  4. Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.
๐Ÿ›๏ธ View Official NIH Record โ†—