Effort-based decision making & depression

About the study

The aim of this project is to increase our knowledge about the psychological processes and role of the chemical messenger dopamine in depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Depression in Parkinson’s disease is common and poorly understood. We want to know whether the amount of effort we are prepared to make to get a potential reward is impaired in people with depression and Parkinson’s disease, and if the chemical messenger dopamine is involved in this process. In our study, people with depression, people with Parkinson’s disease with and without depression, and people without these conditions will complete a computerised task that investigates this.

With your help and participation we hope that these findings will improve the understanding of processes involved in depression and Parkinson’s and potentially inform the development of new treatments.

What will it involve?

Testing (will take place at The Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Alexandra House, 17-19 Queen Square) will last around 1 hour 20 minutes – 2 hours.
During this visit you will:
• Have the opportunity to ask any questions in person.
• Be asked to sign a consent form on paper.
• Be interviewed by a psychiatrist about about your mental health and some experiences you may have had.
• Complete questionnaires about your mood.
• Complete a computerised task where you will be asked to exert physical effort via grip force for a potential reward.