Trial Outcomes & Findings for Investigating Transcranial Ultrasound as a Potential Intervention for Depression (NCT NCT02685488)

NCT ID: NCT02685488

Last Updated: 2018-01-08

Results Overview

The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is one of the most widely used self-report measures for assessing depression. It includes 21 self-report items. Scores range from 0 to 63, and higher scores indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms. In this study, the BDI-II was used to monitor depressive symptoms each day. The outcome is the change in BDI-II score as measured by BDI-II on Day 5 minus BDI-II on Day 1.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

26 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Once on day 1 & day 5

Results posted on

2018-01-08

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Overall Study
STARTED
12
14
Overall Study
COMPLETED
12
13
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
1

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
0
1

Baseline Characteristics

Investigating Transcranial Ultrasound as a Potential Intervention for Depression

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
n=12 Participants
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
n=14 Participants
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Total
n=26 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
26 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
18.58 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION .669 • n=5 Participants
19.14 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.292 • n=7 Participants
18.88 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.071 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
10 Participants
n=7 Participants
18 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
12 participants
n=5 Participants
14 participants
n=7 Participants
26 participants
n=5 Participants
Beck Depression Inventory II
17.33 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.207 • n=5 Participants
16.57 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.36 • n=7 Participants
16.92 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.783 • n=5 Participants
Penn State Worry Questionnaire
57.75 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.555 • n=5 Participants
50.71 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.709 • n=7 Participants
53.96 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.611 • n=5 Participants
Ruminative Responses Scale
49.92 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.764 • n=5 Participants
43.29 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.980 • n=7 Participants
46.35 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.847 • n=5 Participants
Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale
5.75 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.415 • n=5 Participants
5.79 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.392 • n=7 Participants
5.77 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.847 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Once on day 1 & day 5

The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is one of the most widely used self-report measures for assessing depression. It includes 21 self-report items. Scores range from 0 to 63, and higher scores indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms. In this study, the BDI-II was used to monitor depressive symptoms each day. The outcome is the change in BDI-II score as measured by BDI-II on Day 5 minus BDI-II on Day 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
n=12 Participants
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
n=12 Participants
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Depressive Symptoms Assessed With the Beck Depression Inventory-II
-4.42 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.621
-.650 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.249

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Once on day 1 & 5

The Ruminative Responses scale (RRS) consists of 22 statements. It measures rumination, past-focused repetitive thinking that causes and maintains depression. Participants are asked to rate on a scale of 1 (almost never) to 4 (almost always) how much they think about various things (e.g. "think about how alone you feel" and "think about all your shortcomings, failings, faults, mistakes"). Scores range from 22 to 88 with higher scores indicating more rumination. The RRS was used in this study to measure symptoms of rumination on the first and fifth day of this study. The outcome is the difference from Day 5 to Day 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
n=12 Participants
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
n=12 Participants
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Rumination Symptoms Assessed With the Ruminative Responses Scale
-1.83 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.670
-2.10 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.045

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Once on day 1 & day 5

The PSWQ assesses trait worry, a key component of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Participants rate themselves on a scale of 1 ("not at all typical of me") to 5 ("very typical of me") for sixteen different statements. Scores range from 16-80, and higher scores reflect higher levels of worry. This scale has been widely used to assess worry and will allow for assessment of worry in the present study (Brown et al., 1992). The PSWQ was used to monitor symptoms of worry on first and fifth day of this study. The outcome measure is difference from Day 5 to Day 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
n=12 Participants
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
n=12 Participants
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Worry Symptoms Assessed With the Penn State Worry Questionnaire
-1.83 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.732
3.30 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.677

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Once on day 1 & day 5

The Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) assesses severity of anxiety symptoms across anxiety disorders and with subsyndromal symptoms. Participants rate five items on a scale from 0 (indicating no anxiety or impairment) to 4 (indicating severe or extreme anxiety or impairment). Scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety and impairment from anxiety (Norman et al., 2006). The OASIS was used to monitor overall severity of anxiety on each day of the study. The outcome measure is difference from Day 5 to Day 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
n=12 Participants
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
n=12 Participants
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Anxiety Symptoms Assessed With the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale
-1.33 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.723
-2.50 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.240

POST_HOC outcome

Timeframe: Assessed before Stim/Sham and 10 minutes after every day for five days; scores represent change from after to before stim/sham averaged across all five days

The Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS) asks patients to rate how much they are experiencing eight mood categories on a scale of 0-100. Global Affect and Global Vigor are subscales. The Global Vigor scale includes a number of items related to anxiety (calm, tense) as well as fatigue (alert, weary). Based on decreases that were seen in global vigor, we create a sum variable of only calm \& tense items on the VAMS to examine whether state anxiety decreased. Scores range from 0-20, with higher scores indicating more anxiety. This sum variable served as a post-hoc measures of anxiety each day of the study before stimulation/sham, 10 minutes after stimulation/sham, and 30 minutes after stimulation/sham. Outcome is the difference between measure taken 10 minutes after Stim/Sham and measure taken before Stim/Sham. This measure was taken each of the five days and outcome represents the average over all five days from after to before Stim/Sham.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Transcranial Ultrasound
n=12 Participants
Active stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound at 500 kHz with a duty cycle of 0.24 and pulse repetition frequency of 40 Hz. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
Transcranial Ultrasound Sham
n=12 Participants
Stimulation with the transcranial ultrasound will be on "sham" mode. Unknown to both participants and experimenters, the ultrasound will not stimulate. Transcranial Ultrasound: Transcranial ultrasound will be to stimulate at the right fronto-temporal cortex. 30 seconds of stimulation at 500 kHZ with duty cycle 0.24% and pulse rate frequency at 40 Hz.
State Anxiety Assessed With Two Items From the Visual Analogue Mood Scale
-11.9833 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 27.24018
-.6082 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 33.90624

Adverse Events

Transcranial Ultrasound

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Transcranial Ultrasound Sham

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. John J.B. Allen

University of Arizona

Phone: (520) 621-7448

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place