The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bonding
Introduction Most mothers feel an immediate, strong emotional bond with their newborn. On a neurobiological level, this is accompanied with the activation of the brain reward systems, including the striatum. However, approximately 10% of all mothers report difficulties to bond emotionally with their...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2019-07-01
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| author | Beate Ditzen Monika Eckstein Anna-Lena Zietlow Martin Fungisai Gerchen Mike Michael Schmitgen Sarah Ashcroft-Jones Peter Kirsch |
| author_facet | Beate Ditzen Monika Eckstein Anna-Lena Zietlow Martin Fungisai Gerchen Mike Michael Schmitgen Sarah Ashcroft-Jones Peter Kirsch |
| author_sort | Beate Ditzen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Most mothers feel an immediate, strong emotional bond with their newborn. On a neurobiological level, this is accompanied with the activation of the brain reward systems, including the striatum. However, approximately 10% of all mothers report difficulties to bond emotionally with their infant and display impaired reward responses to the interaction with their infant which might have long-term negative effects for the child’s development. As previous studies suggest that activation of the striatal reward system can be regulated through functional MRI (fMRI)-based neurofeedback (NFB), we have designed and investigate fMRI-NFB training to treat maternal bonding difficulties.Methods and analysis In the planned trial, mothers will be presented pictures of their infant and real-time fMRI (rtfMRI), peripheral measures, neural, endocrine, psychophysiological and behavioural measures will be assessed. Mothers with bonding difficulties (n=68) will be randomised to one of two double-blind intervention groups at 4–6 months postpartum. They will participate in three repeated NFB training sessions with rtfMRI-NFB training to increase activation of (a) the ventral striatum or (b) the anterior cingulate. Interview data and real-time mother–infant interaction behaviour pre-intervention, post-intervention and at follow-up will serve as clinical outcome measures.Ethics and dissemination Study procedures are in line with the recommendations of the World Medical Association (revised Declaration of Helsinki) and were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty, s-450/2017, Heidelberg University. All participants will provide written informed consent after receiving a detailed oral and written explanation of all procedures and can withdraw their consent at any time without negative consequence. Results will be internationally published and disseminated, to further the discussion on non-pharmacological treatment options in complex mental disorders.Trial registration number DRKS00014570; Pre-results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ea48a1dd41b447ea5245d1ddc62b257 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ea48a1dd41b447ea5245d1ddc62b2572024-11-28T23:15:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-07-019710.1136/bmjopen-2018-027747The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bondingBeate Ditzen0Monika Eckstein1Anna-Lena Zietlow2Martin Fungisai Gerchen3Mike Michael Schmitgen4Sarah Ashcroft-Jones5Peter Kirsch69 German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Heidelberg-Mannheim-Ulm, Germany1 Institute of Medical Psychology in the Center for Psychosocial Medicine, UniversitatsKlinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany1 Institute of Medical Psychology in the Center for Psychosocial Medicine, UniversitatsKlinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany4 Department of General Psychiatry, UniversitatsKlinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany1 Institute of Medical Psychology in the Center for Psychosocial Medicine, UniversitatsKlinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyIntroduction Most mothers feel an immediate, strong emotional bond with their newborn. On a neurobiological level, this is accompanied with the activation of the brain reward systems, including the striatum. However, approximately 10% of all mothers report difficulties to bond emotionally with their infant and display impaired reward responses to the interaction with their infant which might have long-term negative effects for the child’s development. As previous studies suggest that activation of the striatal reward system can be regulated through functional MRI (fMRI)-based neurofeedback (NFB), we have designed and investigate fMRI-NFB training to treat maternal bonding difficulties.Methods and analysis In the planned trial, mothers will be presented pictures of their infant and real-time fMRI (rtfMRI), peripheral measures, neural, endocrine, psychophysiological and behavioural measures will be assessed. Mothers with bonding difficulties (n=68) will be randomised to one of two double-blind intervention groups at 4–6 months postpartum. They will participate in three repeated NFB training sessions with rtfMRI-NFB training to increase activation of (a) the ventral striatum or (b) the anterior cingulate. Interview data and real-time mother–infant interaction behaviour pre-intervention, post-intervention and at follow-up will serve as clinical outcome measures.Ethics and dissemination Study procedures are in line with the recommendations of the World Medical Association (revised Declaration of Helsinki) and were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty, s-450/2017, Heidelberg University. All participants will provide written informed consent after receiving a detailed oral and written explanation of all procedures and can withdraw their consent at any time without negative consequence. Results will be internationally published and disseminated, to further the discussion on non-pharmacological treatment options in complex mental disorders.Trial registration number DRKS00014570; Pre-results.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/7/e027747.full |
| spellingShingle | Beate Ditzen Monika Eckstein Anna-Lena Zietlow Martin Fungisai Gerchen Mike Michael Schmitgen Sarah Ashcroft-Jones Peter Kirsch The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bonding BMJ Open |
| title | The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bonding |
| title_full | The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bonding |
| title_fullStr | The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bonding |
| title_full_unstemmed | The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bonding |
| title_short | The NeMo real-time fMRI neurofeedback study: protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother–infant bonding |
| title_sort | nemo real time fmri neurofeedback study protocol of a randomised controlled clinical intervention trial in the neural foundations of mother infant bonding |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/7/e027747.full |
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