fMRI-neuronavigated rTMS Treatment for Symptoms of Depression Associated With Concussive TBI in the Military Population

NCT ID: NCT03523507

Last Updated: 2020-11-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

10 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-07-01

Study Completion Date

2020-10-27

Brief Summary

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This study aims to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of fMRI-targeted repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of depressive symptoms in service members with a history of concussive traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Up to ninety participants will be randomized to active or sham treatment. Participants randomized into the active group will receive 20 sessions of left-sided dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) high-frequency rTMS, followed by right-sided DLFPC low-frequency rTMS. The DLPFC treatment area will be identified by using individual subject-level resting state network estimation (Hacker et al., 2013). Participants randomized into the sham treatment group will receive 20 sham treatments designed to have similar sound and tactile sensation, without producing active treatment. Participants will also be asked to complete regular follow-up evaluations for up to a total of six follow-up sessions. Those who do not respond to the treatment will have the option to receive active treatment through this study regardless of group assignment to active or sham.

Detailed Description

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This study aims to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of individual connectome-targeted repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (ICT-rTMS) treatment to enhance the rehabilitation of service members with symptoms of depression and history of concussive traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This will be a multi-site, double-blinded, sham-controlled, prospective, randomized interventional trial. Up to ninety participants will be block randomized to active (ICT-rTMS) or sham treatment. Participants will receive 20 sessions of ICT-rTMS over approximately 5 weeks.

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and structural MRI will be obtained at baseline to allow for the calculation of connectome-targeted treatment coordinates and ensure the absence of structural abnormalities. The rsfMRI scan at baseline will also be used to establish the baseline for the secondary imaging outcome measures.

Treatment sessions will consist of high-frequency left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation for 4,000 pulses followed by low-frequency right DLPFC stimulation for 1,000 pulses for a total stimulation time of approximately one hour per session. This protocol was chosen based on a recent meta-analysis (Brunoni et al., 2017) indicating that amongst the various treatment protocols, priming the low frequency right hemisphere stimulation with a high frequency left hemisphere stimulation led to the greatest efficacy for treatment of Major Depressive Episodes. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of the literature in TMS for depression targets the stimulation to DLPFC and the FDA has approved repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to DLPFC for the treatment of medication-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD).

The primary outcome will be change in depression severity from baseline to post-treatment. The primary analysis will be a comparison between the ICT-rTMS and sham groups. Secondary outcome measures utilized will include cognitive, quality of life, and emotional regulation measures, as well as imaging changes. Additional analyses will include durability of effects during the 6 months following treatment.

Conditions

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Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion, Mild Depressive Symptoms

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Active: rTMS

Participants will receive 20 bilateral treatment sessions provided over approximately a 5-week period. Daily sessions entail approximately 60 minutes of time.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active: rTMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Daily sessions will consist of 3000 left-sided excitatory pulses at 10 Hz (with 4-second trains and 26-second inter-train interval) followed by 1000 right-sided inhibitory pulses at 1 Hz (in a single train). The DLPFC treatment target will be determined using individualized resting-state network mapping.

Sham: rTMS

Sham: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Participants will receive sham treatment designed to have similar sound and tactile sensation, without producing active stimulation.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham: rTMS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Daily sessions will consist of the same total number of sham pulses, designed to have similar sound and tactile sensation, without producing active stimulation.

Interventions

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Active: rTMS

Daily sessions will consist of 3000 left-sided excitatory pulses at 10 Hz (with 4-second trains and 26-second inter-train interval) followed by 1000 right-sided inhibitory pulses at 1 Hz (in a single train). The DLPFC treatment target will be determined using individualized resting-state network mapping.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham: rTMS

Daily sessions will consist of the same total number of sham pulses, designed to have similar sound and tactile sensation, without producing active stimulation.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 18-64
2. Current or former US military service member
3. Eligible for care at DoD facilities
4. Able to provide written, informed consent in English
5. History of concussive TBI:

1. \>6 months prior to consent
2. Documented previously in medical records and/or as confirmed by the TBI Screener
6. Must meet Criterion A of the DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder as determined by a trained assessor
7. Baseline MADRS \>10

Exclusion Criteria

1. Elevated risk of seizures:

1. Prior history of unprovoked seizures other than within 24 hours of concussive TBI
2. Family history of seizures
3. History of TBI resulting in penetrating trauma based on the TBI Screener
4. Presence of intracranial tumor or intraparenchymal hemorrhage based on the structural MRI scan
5. Heavy alcohol consumption within 48 hours, prior to any treatment session
6. Receiving tricyclic antidepressants or neuroleptics at doses that lower seizure threshold
2. Contraindications to awake 3T MRI without contrast:

1. Ferromagnetic implants or metallic shrapnel
2. Severe claustrophobia
3. Unable to lie awake, supine, stationary, with reasonable comfort in the scanner for approximately 45 minutes
4. Markedly distorted functional brain anatomy such that rsfMRI targeting cannot be performed
3. History of severe or recent uncontrolled heart disease
4. Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines
5. Implanted neurostimulators and medication pumps
6. Presence of rapidly progressive illnesses such as late stage cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, major organ failure, etc.
7. History of Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, or Moderate/Severe Substance Use Disorders, with the exception of nicotine use disorders
8. Increased risk of suicide as clinically evaluated
9. Current evidence of substance-induced mood disorder, active psychosis, and/or depression secondary to general medical illness (other than TBI)
10. Concomitant or previous history of receiving open-label TMS, other neurostimulatory treatment, or electroconvulsive therapy
11. Pregnancy

a. Female participants of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective method of birth control during the course of the study, or to remain abstinent from sex, to ensure they do not become pregnant during the course of the study
12. Unilateral or bilateral upper extremity amputation or other condition precluding motor threshold calibration
13. Any considerations that, in the opinion of the investigator, may adversely affect patient safety, participation, or the scientific validity of the data being collected (e.g., planned hospitalization halfway through the initial treatment period, limited life expectancy, etc.)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

64 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM)

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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David L Brody, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM)

Locations

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Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital

Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Hacker CD, Laumann TO, Szrama NP, Baldassarre A, Snyder AZ, Leuthardt EC, Corbetta M. Resting state network estimation in individual subjects. Neuroimage. 2013 Nov 15;82:616-633. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.108. Epub 2013 Jun 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23735260 (View on PubMed)

Brunoni AR, Chaimani A, Moffa AH, Razza LB, Gattaz WF, Daskalakis ZJ, Carvalho AF. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Acute Treatment of Major Depressive Episodes: A Systematic Review With Network Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 Feb 1;74(2):143-152. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.3644.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28030740 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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898115

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id