Plain-English translation of NCT04426461 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Anxiety research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
Researchers studied how three different therapy approaches worked for people experiencing both anxiety and depression. The three treatments tested were behavioral activation (encouraging engagement in meaningful activities), exposure-based therapy (learning to face fears and reduce avoidance), and supportive therapy (a non-specific comparison treatment). The study aimed to understand which approach worked best for different people and how changes in the brain and behavior related to symptom improvement.
Current anxiety and depression treatments help fewer than half of patients achieve lasting improvement. Because anxiety and depression often occur together but the standard treatments target different aspects of these conditions, doctors need better information to decide which therapy is most helpful for each person.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of the three therapy approaches over several weeks. Before and after treatment, they completed clinical interviews, brain imaging scans (fMRI), questionnaires about their symptoms, and special tests where they made decisions about approaching rewards versus avoiding threats. The study used computer models to analyze how brain activity and decision-making patterns changed with treatment and which patterns predicted who would benefit most from each therapy type.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Sep 4, 2026 · Not medical advice
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