Try a cognitive training program designed for veterans with depression

What is this trial?

This trial is testing Motivationally Enhanced Compensatory Cognitive Training for Major Depressive Disorder (ME-CCT-MDD), a group-based program designed to help veterans with depression who are experiencing problems with thinking, memory, or attention. The program teaches practical strategies to compensate for these cognitive difficulties and combines them with mindfulness practices and coaching about healthy lifestyle habits like exercise and nutrition. The goal is to see whether this treatment helps improve how well people think and function in daily life.

Many veterans with depression struggle with thinking and memory problems that interfere with their ability to work, socialize, and recover from depression. Current depression treatments don't always address these cognitive issues, so researchers developed this treatment to fill that gap and help veterans with both their mood and their thinking skills.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are a veteran aged 18 or older
you have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and are currently receiving treatment for it at Portland VA
you are experiencing moderate to severe depression symptoms
you have noticed problems with your memory, attention, thinking speed, or ability to plan and organize
you have concerns about your cognitive abilities that are documented by your healthcare provider

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of traumatic brain injury
you are currently struggling with substance abuse (other than nicotine)
you have been diagnosed with dementia or a psychotic disorder
you are having active suicidal thoughts with significant risk
you have hearing or vision problems that would prevent you from participating in a group program

What participation looks like

If you join this study, you will attend a group program that meets for 2 hours per week for 8 weeks. During these sessions, you will learn practical strategies to help with memory and thinking, practice mindfulness techniques, and discuss healthy lifestyle changes. You may also complete some thinking and memory tests before and after the program to see if the treatment helps. All of this takes place at Portland VA Medical Center.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 5, 2026 · Not medical advice

Key details

Sponsor

Portland VA Medical Center

Collaborators

Oregon Health and Science University

Enrollment target

~24 participants

Started

May 2025

Primary completion

June 2026

This trial's estimated completion date has passed — the record may not be fully up to date.

Age range

18 Years and older

Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in June 2025.

Contact the research team directly

Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.

Central contact

Joren Adams

Portland VA Medical Center

Interested in joining?

Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.

Learning strategies to improve thinking skills in veterans with depression

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)