Reward System EEG-fMRI-Pattern Neurofeedback for Major Depressive Disorder with Anhedonia: A Multicenter Pilot Study.

Background/

Objectives

Up to 75% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibit persistent anhedonia symptoms related to abnormalities in the positive valence system. Cumulative evidence points to brain dysfunction in the reward system (RS), including in the ventral striatum, in patients with MDD with anhedonia. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel neurofeedback (NF) device (termed Prism) which incorporates the EEG-FRI-Pattern biomarker of the reward system (RS-EFP) for use in self-neuromodulation training (RS-EFP-NF) for alleviating depression in patients with MDD with anhedonia.

Methods

A total of 49 adults (age range: M = 39.9 ± 11.03) with a DSM-5 diagnosis of MDD with anhedonia (per a SHAPS-C score ≥ 25) were screened for the administration of ten sessions of RS-EFP-NF twice a week on nonconsecutive days. Depression and anhedonia severity was assessed, respectively, by HDRS-17 and SHAPS-C at baseline, midway, and treatment end.

Results

A total of 34 patients (77%) completed the protocol and were included in the analyses. No device-related adverse events were serious or required treatment. Depression symptoms were reduced at end of treatment as indicated by the HDRS-17, with a reduction of eight points on average (95% CI: -10.5 to -5.41, p < 0.0001), a clinical improvement rate of 78.47%, and a remission rate of 32.25%. Anhedonia, as indicated by the SHAPS-C score, was diminished, showing an average reduction of 6.3 points (95% CI: -8.51 to -4.14, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Self-neuromodulation using RS-EFP-NF is a promising and safe treatment for MDD with anhedonia. The intervention demonstrates substantial clinical effects on both depression and anhedonia symptoms, with high patient acceptability and retention. Prism may address a critical mechanism-driven treatment gap for anhedonia that often persists despite conventional therapies. Larger controlled implementation, efficacy, and dosing studies are warranted.