NCT04945239

Amplification of Positivity to Enhance Social Connections in Anxiety and Depression

Novel Behavioral Intervention to Target Social Reward Sensitivity and Attachment

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 134 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, San Diego · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel transdiagnostic behavioral treatment -- Amplification of Positivity (AMP) -- intended to enhance positive social connections in individuals with elevated anxiety and/or depression. Social relationship impairments are common and debilitating consequences of anxiety and depression. Existing treatments have some beneficial impact on social functioning; however, many people continue to have few and/or poor quality relationships following treatment, even after experiencing symptom relief. This study will evaluate the effects of AMP on the brain systems that have been shown to be important for establishing positive connections with others. Approximately 100 individuals (ages 18-55) seeking treatment for anxiety or depression will participate in this study. Participants will be randomly assigned with equal probability to either AMP or stress management training (SMT) (6 sessions each). Participants will be assessed at baseline and post-treatment and compared on measures assessing brain responses to social reward (primary outcome), as well as physiological, behavioral, and emotional responses to social reward (secondary outcomes). It is hypothesized that the AMP group will experience greater increases from pre- to post-treatment in activity in brain systems that regulate the processing of social reward cues (e.g., striatum) relative to participants in the SMT group. It is also hypothesized that changes in brain activation to social reward from pre- to post-treatment will be correlated with the degree of improvement in social connectedness.

Conditions

• Depression
• Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Amplification of Positivity Training (6 Sessions)	6 one-hour, clinician-administered treatment sessions focused on presenting rationale and instructions for completing positive activity exercises (e.g., gratitude, acts of kindness) designed to increase positive emotions, cognitions, and behaviors.
BEHAVIORAL	Stress Management Training (6 Sessions)	6 one-hour, clinician-administered treatment sessions focused on presenting rationale and instructions for activity exercises designed to decrease stress.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-03-29
• Primary completion: 2023-12-10
• Completion: 2024-03-25
• First posted: 2021-06-30
• Last updated: 2025-01-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States