Stress Tasks for Anhedonia
(STAARS Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to understand the link between the brain and body's stress responses and anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure, in teenagers. Researchers will observe 13 to 15-year-olds over 20 months, monitoring their brain activity, stress hormones, and performance on mental tasks to identify patterns. Teens who haven’t taken specific medications or have certain medical conditions might be suitable candidates. The goal is to determine if changes in brain and body responses can predict the development or progression of anhedonia over time. As an unphased study, this trial offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to foundational research that could enhance the understanding and treatment of anhedonia in the future.
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the "Stress Tasks for Anhedonia" trial because it explores new ways to understand and potentially address anhedonia in adolescents. Unlike traditional treatments for anhedonia, which often involve medications like antidepressants, this trial focuses on experimental tasks designed to assess stress responses in teenagers. By targeting the psychological and physiological aspects of stress, researchers aim to uncover how specific stressors might influence anhedonia, providing insights that could lead to more personalized and effective interventions. This approach could offer a fresh perspective that goes beyond the chemical treatment of symptoms, aiming for a deeper understanding of the condition itself.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Aysenil Belger, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Danielle Roubinov, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This study is for adolescents aged 13 to 15 who may be experiencing anhedonia, which is a reduced ability to feel pleasure. The goal is to understand how stress affects their brain and body over time. Participants will engage in the study for 20 months, completing surveys, tasks, and providing saliva samples and brain images.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Baseline Assessment
Participants complete initial assessments including psychological measures, cognitive tests, brain imaging, and physiological measures
10-Month Assessment
Participants complete follow-up assessments including psychological measures, cognitive tests, brain imaging, and physiological measures
20-Month Assessment
Participants complete final assessments including psychological measures, cognitive tests, brain imaging, and physiological measures
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for any long-term effects and data analysis is conducted
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborator