THIS STUDY IS CLOSED TO ENROLLMENT.
The ILIAD study is aiming to improve our understanding of depression and a characteristic of depression called anhedonia. Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure often accompanied by a lack of motivation. This is something that many people with depression experience. This study will use Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation (LIFUP) to stimulate brain activity in areas of the brain associated with anhedonia. This study will measure how LIFUP may impact measures of depression and anhedonia in the weeks after the ultrasound procedure takes place. This research also aims to measure and track behavioral characteristics of depression collected through an Apple watch, in order to predict brain activity, as measured by MRI scans.
You may be eligible to participate if:
Research participation lasts approximately 7 weeks during which participants are asked to wear a provided Apple watch, and complete online surveys. Participants are asked to come to UCLA for 5 study visits in one month to complete a 90 minute MRI brain scan, 3 sessions of ultrasound brain stimulation, and a second, 90 minute MRI brain scan.
Throughout their time on study, participants are asked to keep a study app on their phone, wear a provided Apple watch, respond to online surveys once per week, and participate in 4 periods of mood checks. Mood checks are brief 1 minute questionnaires delivered to your phone through the study app, 5 times/day for 8 days.
During the first visit to UCLA participants complete an MRI scan where they are asked to remain still and relaxed with eyes open, and at times complete computer tasks. The MRI scan will last 90 minutes, and be repeated after 3 brain stimulation sessions have been completed. During their first visit participants will also be asked to complete a brief, video recorded interview. The interview will last about 5 minutes, and participants are asked to describe positive and negative experiences from their past week.
Three brain stimulation sessions will be scheduled to occur within 10 days. Brain stimulation is performed using low intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP) directed at specific areas of the brain associated with anhedonia. This brain stimulation procedure has been found to be extremely safe and comfortable. There is no sensation from the ultrasound waves, and many people do not even know when the ultrasound machine is on and actively stimulating their brain.
Study participation is expected to require a total of about 13.5 hours over approximately 7 weeks You can earn up to $589 for completing all study visits and assessments. If you complete all of the study visits and assessments, you will be able to keep the Apple Watch.
Participation is entirely voluntary. This study is not to provide treatment.
In order to determine if you are eligible, you will be asked to answer a series of questions about yourself and answer questions about current symptoms of depression that you may be experiencing. If you are eligible based on your responses, you will be asked to provide your availability for a phone call with our staff. They will reach out to discuss study participation with you, and confirm your final eligibility. If you are eligible, a consent session will be scheduled at that time.
Participants in this study are asked to undergo 2 MRI scans lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes each, during which you must lie very still, with the upper half of your body and head in a confined space, while a piece of equipment is covering much of your head. If this sounds extremely uncomfortable or claustrophobic to you, we do not recommend you enroll. If you are unsure, please continue through these pages to enroll, and you can then speak with staff about the MRI scan procedures. If you are unsure after speaking with our staff, you could be scheduled to come to UCLA for an imitation scan to see if you would be comfortable, before choosing to enroll.
If you are not eligible to enroll at this time based on your responses, you will be asked whether you would like to be contacted at a later date if enrollment opens to you.
This screening may take 20-30 minutes to complete. If any of these webpages remain idle, you will be logged out. You can re-enter your email and phone number, and verify your number via text message, to resume.
For a list of Emergency and Outpatient Resources, click here.
If you have any questions about the research study, you may email us at optimastudy@mednet.ucla.edu or speak with a Research Coordinator by calling 310-562-6857.