Virtual Reality-Reward Training for Anhedonia

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) with an active control condition, Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT), on positive affect and other clinical symptoms. VR-Reward Training is a novel intervention aimed at enhancing savoring of positive experiences among individuals with depression and low positive affect through guided imaginal recounting following immersion in positive VR experiences. Target enrollment is 80 male and female participants with low positive affect, depression, and impaired functioning, who are at least 18 years old, who will be randomly assigned to 7 weeks of either Virtual Reality-Reward Training (VR-RT) or Virtual Reality-Memory Training (VR-MT). Participants will complete in-person VR sessions, laboratory assessments, self-report questionnaires as part of the study. The total length of participation is around 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. At least 18 years old 2. Fluent in written and spoken English 3. Meet all of the following dimensional score cutoffs: 1. Score on the DASS-21 depression subscale must be ≥ 11 2. Score on the PANAS-P of 24 or lower 3. Score on the SDS of ≥ 6 4. Willingness to refrain from initiating other psychosocial treatments throughout the duration of the study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation, or organic brain damage 2. Substance use disorder in the past 6 months 3. Current use of psychotropic medications 4. Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant 5. Self-reported frequent motion sickness 6. Self-reported seizures within the last year and/or a diagnosis of epilepsy