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Major Depressive DisorderNCT05426265

The Effects of Videogames on Depression Symptoms and Brain Dynamics

A study testing MEL-T01 and MEL-S01 in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Aalto University at 6 sites in Finland.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of a game-based digital-therapeutics (DTx) medical software device on the symptoms of depression in adults with confirmed major depressive disorder. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Major Depressive Disorder
What is being tested?
MEL-T01 and MEL-S01
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
1,001 participants
Where
6 sitesFinland
Study dates
28 Jun 2022to 14 Aug 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Between 18-65 year-old
  • Suffering from major depressive disorder
  • Have an ongoing mental health treatment contact to basic healthcare, specialised healthcare, student healthcare or occupational healthcare
  • Has sufficient eyesight with or without prescription
  • Has a Windows computer with internet connection and mouse
  • Has email and phone number

Who cannot join

  • They have threat of self-harm
  • They have addiction to digital games
  • They have psychotic disorders
  • They are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • They have impaired ability in decision making
  • They are prisoner or forensic subject
  • They have neurological disorders such as epilepsy or brain injury

Trial locations and contacts

6 sites in 1 country.

6 sites in 1 country

Finland6 sites
  • Aalto University (TMS)

    Espoo, Uusimaa, 02150

  • Aalto University, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering

    Espoo, Uusimaa, 02150

  • Helsinki University Hospital, Psychiatry

    Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014

  • Helsinki University Hospital BioMag laboratory

    Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00029

  • University of Helsinki Neuroscience Center (MEG, MRI)

    Helsinki, Uusimaa

  • Turku University Hospital

    Turku, Southwest Finland, 20521

Other trials in Finland

About this study

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of a game-based digital-therapeutics (DTx) medical software device on the symptoms of depression in adults with confirmed major depressive disorder.

Read the detailed description

The study is a comparator-controlled, randomised, double-blinded intervention study aimed at assessing the effects of the investigational device MEL-T01, "Meliora", on the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). MEL-S01 acts as a comparator. MEL-T01 is a game-based digital-therapeutics (DTx) medical software device developed at Aalto University and is intended to be used as a treatment for MDD together with treatment-as-usual (TAU). MEL-T01 implements personalised cognitive training to alleviate MDD symptoms and improve cognitive performance in MDD subjects.

Subjects volunteering to participate in this investigation are adults whose MDD is confirmed through MINI interview. They have an on-going mental health treatment contact with a mental health professional. The subjects are randomised into three arms with equal probabilities in blocks of six consecutive subjects. Subjects in the MEL-T01 and MEL-S01 arms are engaged in the intervention for 12 weeks while those in the TAU arm are on a follow-up period during these 12 weeks. After this 12-week period, the subjects in MEL-T01 and MEL-S01 arms enter a 12-week follow-up period and the subjects in TAU arm engage with either the MEL-T01 or MEL-S01 intervention (randomised at T0 with equal probability) for 12 weeks.

The subjects are recommended to play the investigational-device game for a total of 48 hours during the 12 weeks of active intervention with a recommended weekly dose of 4 hours. A minimum of 24 hours is needed for inclusion to hypothesis testing. The subjects are limited to a daily maximum of 1.5 hours of game time.

The subjects' mental health symptoms and well-being are evaluated through online questionnaires five times: before subjects are randomised into one of the three groups (T0), and then 4 (T1), 8 (T2), 12 (T3), and 24 (T4) weeks after the study has begun.

Being tested
MEL-T01, MEL-S01
Keywords
Depression, Digital therapeutics, Digital mental health intervention
Medical subject headings
Depressive Disorder, Major, Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • MEL-T01Device

    Also called Meliora

    A 12 week intervention with MEL-T01.

  • MEL-S01Device

    A 12 week intervention with MEL-S01.

Study groups in NCT05426265
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MEL-T01ExperimentalMEL-T01 is a game-based digital-therapeutics (DTx) medical software device that implements personalised cognitive training to alleviate MDD symptoms and improve cognitive performance in MDD subjects.
Receives: Device: MEL-T01
MEL-S01Active comparatorMEL-S01 is an active comparator similar to MEL-T01 but without personalized cognitive training elements.
Receives: Device: MEL-S01
TAUNo interventionTreatment-as-usual.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. PHQ-9 Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment: Experimental Group vs. Treatment as Usual Group

    The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9, Kroenke et al., 2001) is a self-report measure of major depressive disorder. The PHQ-9 scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria for MDD from "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day), providing a 0-27 severity score of depression. The higher the total score the more severe the depression.

    The change in the PHQ-9 total score between before the 12 week intervention and after the intervention is measured. The change score of MEL-T01 group is compared with the change score of the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  2. PHQ-9 Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment: Active Comparator Group vs. Treatment as Usual Group

    The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9, Kroenke et al., 2001) is a self-report measure of major depressive disorder. The PHQ-9 scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria for MDD from "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day), providing a 0-27 severity score of depression. The higher the total score the more severe the depression.

    The change in the PHQ-9 total score between before the 12 week intervention and after the intervention is measured. The change score of MEL-S01 group is compared with the change score of the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  3. PHQ-9 Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment: Experimental Group vs. Active Comparator Group

    The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9, Kroenke et al., 2001) is a self-report measure of major depressive disorder. The PHQ-9 scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria for MDD from "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day), providing a 0-27 severity score of depression. The higher the total score the more severe the depression.

    The change in the PHQ-9 total score between before the 12 week intervention and after the intervention is measured. The change score of MEL-T01 group is compared with the change score in the MEL-S01 group.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. QIDS Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment

    The quick inventory of depressive symptomatology (QIDS-SR16) is a self-report measure comprising of 16 questions on a scale of 0-3 which assess the severity of depressive symptoms. The inventory provides a total score between 0 and 48: the higher the total score the more severe the depression.

    For each of the three study arms, the change in total QIDS-SR16 scores between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention is measured. Then, the average change scores in each of the three groups are compared with each other.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  2. RRS (Short Version) Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment

    Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), short version, is an eight item self-report questionnaire that uses a four point Likert-scale. This leads to a total score between 8 and 64 where higher values indicate higher depressive brooding.

    For each of the three study arms, the change in total RRS scores between before the intervention compared and after the 12 week intervention are measured. Then, the average change scores in each of the three groups are compared with each other.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  3. GAD-7 Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment

    The general anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) is a seven-item self-report questionnaire that uses a 4-point scale (between 0 and 3) to evaluate the degree of anxiety symptoms. The questionnaire provides a total between 0 and 21: the higher the total score, the more severe the anxiety.

    For each of the three study arms, the change in total GAD-7 scores between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention is measured. Then, the average change scores in each of the three groups are compared with each other.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  4. SDS Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment

    The Sheehan disability scale (SDS) is a self-administered three item questionnaire using a 11-point scale (between 0 and 10). The scale is used to measure functional impairment. The scale provides a total score between 0 and 30: the higher the score, the higher the functional impairment. In addition, the scale measures "the number of days lost to symptoms" and "the number of days unproductive due to the symptoms".

    For each of the three study arms, the change in total SDS scores between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention is measured. Then, the average change scores in each of the three groups are compared with each other.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  5. PVSS Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment

    The positive valence systems scale (PVSS) is a 21-item self-report questionnaire using a scale from 1 to 9. This leads to a total score between 21 and 189 where a lower total score indicates higher anhedonia.

    For each of the three study arms, the change in total PVSS scores between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention is measured. Then, the average change scores in each of the three groups are compared with each other.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  6. WHO-5 Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment

    The well-being index (WHO-5) is a five item self-report questionnaire using a scale from 0 to 5. This leads to a total score is between 0 and 25: higher scores indicate higher subjective well-being.

    For each of the three study arms, the change in total WHO-5 scores between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention is measured. Then, the average change scores in each of the three groups are compared with each other.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  7. Correlation Between PHQ-9 Total Change and Playing Time in Group MEL-T01

    The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9, Kroenke et al., 2001) is a self-report measure of major depressive disorder. The PHQ-9 scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria for MDD from "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day), providing a 0-27 severity score of depression. The higher the total score the more severe the depression.

    For the treatment MEL-T01 group, the change scores in the total PHQ-9 score between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention is measured. Then, the correlation between the change score and the minutes played during the intervention is calculated. This leads to a correlation score that evaluates whether a higher symptom change is associated with higher playing time.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  8. Correlation Between PHQ-9 Total Change and Playing Time in Group MEL-S01

    The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9, Kroenke et al., 2001) is a self-report measure of major depressive disorder. The PHQ-9 scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria for MDD from "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day), providing a 0-27 severity score of depression. The higher the total score the more severe the depression.

    For the active comparator MEL-S01 group, the change scores in the total PHQ-9 score between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention is measured. Then, the correlation between the change score and the minutes played during the intervention is calculated. This leads to a correlation score that evaluates whether a higher symptom change is associated with higher playing time.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  9. Correlation Between PHQ-9 Total Change and IEQ in Group MEL-T01

    The immersive experiences questionnaire (IEQ, Jennett et al., 2008) is a self-report questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of being immersed while playing a video game. It has 31 questions on a scale of 1-7. This creates a total score between 31 and 217: the higher totals indicate higher immersion. In addition, there is one question - "How immersed did you feel?" - on a scale of 1-10.

    For the treatment MEL-T01 group, we measure the correlation between 1) the change in the total PHQ-9 score between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention and 2) the total IEQ score (excluding the one additional questionnaire) as measured after the 12 week intervention.

    This leads to a correlation score that evaluates whether a higher symptom change is associated with higher immersion in the game.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

  10. Correlation Between PHQ-9 Total Change and IEQ in Group MEL-S01

    The immersive experiences questionnaire (IEQ, Jennett et al., 2008) is a self-report questionnaire that measures the subjective experience of being immersed while playing a video game. It has 31 questions on a scale of 1-7. This creates a total score between 31 and 217: the higher totals indicate higher immersion. In addition, there is one question - "How immersed did you feel?" - on a scale of 1-10.

    For the treatment MEL-S01 group, we measure the correlation between 1) the change in the total PHQ-9 score between before the intervention and after the 12 week intervention and 2) the total IEQ score (excluding the one additional questionnaire) as measured after the 12 week intervention.

    This leads to a correlation score that evaluates whether a higher symptom change is associated with higher immersion in the game.

    Measured: Day 0 to Day 84

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Jun 2022
  2. Study start28 Jun 2022
  3. Primary completion14 Aug 2024
  4. Study completion14 Aug 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
The effectiveness of MEL-T01 and comparator MEL-S01 are studied. Their effectiveness is compared to a treatment-as-usual (TAU) group who also receive the intervention after a 12 week waiting period.
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
1,001 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05426265
Sponsor's protocol ID
MelioraRCT
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
17 May 2022
Last updated
29 Apr 2026
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Lukka L, Vesterinen M, Salonen A, Bergman VR, Torkki P, Palva S, Palva JM. User journey method: a case study for improving digital intervention use measurement. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025 Apr 1;25(1):479. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12641-9.

    PubMed 40165237

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing MEL-T01 and MEL-S01 in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Aalto University at 6 sites in Finland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 6 sites in Finland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 29 Apr 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

PHQ-9 Total Change From Baseline to Posttreatment: Experimental Group vs. Treatment as Usual Group (time frame: Day 0 to Day 84). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05426265, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Apr 2026.

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