Establishing a Dose-response Relationship With Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

NCT ID: NCT04243798

Last Updated: 2025-04-25

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

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-15

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This study evaluates an accelerated schedule of theta-burst stimulation using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device for treatment-resistant depression. In a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled fashion, half the participants will receive accelerated theta-burst stimulation while half will receive sham treatment.

Detailed Description

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Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an established therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The approved method for treatment is 10Hz stimulation for 40 min over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC). This methodology has been effective in real world situations. The limitations of this approach include the duration of the treatment (approximately 40 minutes per treatment session, 5 days per week, for 4-8 weeks). Recently, we have pursued modifying the treatment parameters to reduce treatment times with an accelerated treatment paradigm with great preliminary success. This study aims to further study our accelerated protocol and examine changes in neuroimaging biomarkers.

Dr. Nolan Williams is the Principle Investigator on the grant associated for this study and so is listed as Study Director on the study record.

Conditions

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Treatment Resistant Depression

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 TBS-DLPFC

The active group will receive theta-burst TMS stimulation.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active TBS-DLPFC

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants in the active stimulation group will receive intermittent TBS to left DLPFC. The L-DLPFC will be targeted utilizing the Localite neuronavigation system. Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 90% of RMT and adjusted to the skull to cortical surface distance (see Nahas 2004).

Stimulation will be delivered to the L-DLPFC using a MagPro x100 TMS system (MagVenture, Denmark).

Sham TBS-DLPFC

The sham group will receive sham theta-burst TMS stimulation.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham TBS-DLPFC

Intervention Type DEVICE

The parameters in the sham arm will be as above with the internal randomization of the device internally switching to sham in a blinded fashion.

Interventions

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Active TBS-DLPFC

Participants in the active stimulation group will receive intermittent TBS to left DLPFC. The L-DLPFC will be targeted utilizing the Localite neuronavigation system. Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 90% of RMT and adjusted to the skull to cortical surface distance (see Nahas 2004).

Stimulation will be delivered to the L-DLPFC using a MagPro x100 TMS system (MagVenture, Denmark).

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham TBS-DLPFC

The parameters in the sham arm will be as above with the internal randomization of the device internally switching to sham in a blinded fashion.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Male or Female, between the ages of 22 and 65 at the time of screening.
2. Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to screening. Proficiency in English sufficient to complete questionnaires / follow instructions during fMRI assessments and aiTBS interventions. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures, including availability for the duration of the study, and to communicate with study personnel about adverse events and other clinically important information.
3. Currently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and meets criteria for a Major Depressive Episode, according to the criteria defined in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5).
4. Medical records confirming a history of moderate to severe treatment-resistance as defined by a score of 7-14 on the Maudsley Staging Method (MSM3).
5. MADRS score of ≥20 at screening (Visit 1).
6. TMS naive.
7. Access to ongoing psychiatric care before and after completion of the study.
8. Access to clinical rTMS after study completion.
9. Must be on a stable antidepressant therapeutic regimen for 6 weeks prior to study enrollment and agree to continue this regimen throughout the study period.
10. In good general health, as evidenced by medical history.
11. For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation.
12. Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle Considerations throughout study duration.

Lifestyle considerations:

1. Abstain from becoming pregnant from the screening visit (Visit 1) until after the final study visit (Visit 9).
2. Continue usual intake patterns of caffeine- or xanthine-containing products (e.g., coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate) without significant change for the duration of the study.
3. Abstain from alcohol for at least 24 hours before the start of each MRI and TMS session. Participants who use tobacco products will be informed that use will be allowed only in between intervention sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnancy
2. Primary psychiatric condition other than MDD requiring treatment except stable comorbid anxiety disorder
3. History of or current psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder
4. Severe borderline personality disorder.
5. Diagnosis of Intellectual Disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder
6. Current moderate or severe substance use disorder or demonstrating signs of acute substance withdrawal
7. Urine screening test positive for illicit substances
8. Active suicidal ideation (defined as an MSSI \> 8) or a suicide attempt (as defined by the C-SSRS) within the past one year
9. Any history of ECT (greater than 8 sessions) without meeting responder criteria
10. Recent (within 4 weeks of any clinical effect) or concurrent use of rapid acting antidepressant agent (i.e., ketamine or a course of ECT)
11. History of significant neurologic disease, including dementia, Parkinson's or Huntington's disease, brain tumor, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma
12. Untreated or insufficiently treated endocrine disorder.
13. Contraindication to receiving rTMS (e.g., metal in head, history of seizure, known brain lesion)
14. Contraindication to MRI (ferromagnetic metal in their body)
15. Treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within the study period
16. Depth-adjusted aiTBS treatment dose \> 65% maximum stimulator output (MSO)
17. Unstable symptoms between screening and baseline as defined by a ≥ 30% change in MADRS-S score.
18. Any other condition deemed by the PD to interfere with the study or increase risk to the participant
Minimum Eligible Age

22 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Stanford University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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David Spiegel

Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Nolan Williams, MD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Stanford University

David Spiegel, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stanford University

Locations

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Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine

Stanford, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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George MS, Lisanby SH, Avery D, McDonald WM, Durkalski V, Pavlicova M, Anderson B, Nahas Z, Bulow P, Zarkowski P, Holtzheimer PE 3rd, Schwartz T, Sackeim HA. Daily left prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for major depressive disorder: a sham-controlled randomized trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 May;67(5):507-16. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.46.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20439832 (View on PubMed)

George MS, Wassermann EM, Williams WA, Callahan A, Ketter TA, Basser P, Hallett M, Post RM. Daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves mood in depression. Neuroreport. 1995 Oct 2;6(14):1853-6. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199510020-00008.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Pascual-Leone A, Rubio B, Pallardo F, Catala MD. Rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in drug-resistant depression. Lancet. 1996 Jul 27;348(9022):233-7. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(96)01219-6.

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Chung SW, Hill AT, Rogasch NC, Hoy KE, Fitzgerald PB. Use of theta-burst stimulation in changing excitability of motor cortex: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016 Apr;63:43-64. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.01.008. Epub 2016 Feb 3.

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Jelic MB, Milanovic SD, Filipovic SR. Differential effects of facilitatory and inhibitory theta burst stimulation of the primary motor cortex on motor learning. Clin Neurophysiol. 2015 May;126(5):1016-23. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.09.003. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

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PMID: 25281475 (View on PubMed)

Chung SW, Hoy KE, Fitzgerald PB. Theta-burst stimulation: a new form of TMS treatment for depression? Depress Anxiety. 2015 Mar;32(3):182-92. doi: 10.1002/da.22335. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25450537 (View on PubMed)

Plewnia C, Pasqualetti P, Grosse S, Schlipf S, Wasserka B, Zwissler B, Fallgatter A. Treatment of major depression with bilateral theta burst stimulation: a randomized controlled pilot trial. J Affect Disord. 2014 Mar;156:219-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.12.025. Epub 2013 Dec 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24411682 (View on PubMed)

Prasser J, Schecklmann M, Poeppl TB, Frank E, Kreuzer PM, Hajak G, Rupprecht R, Landgrebe M, Langguth B. Bilateral prefrontal rTMS and theta burst TMS as an add-on treatment for depression: a randomized placebo controlled trial. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2015 Jan;16(1):57-65. doi: 10.3109/15622975.2014.964768. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25430687 (View on PubMed)

Daskalakis ZJ. Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression: when less may be more. Brain. 2014 Jul;137(Pt 7):1860-2. doi: 10.1093/brain/awu123. Epub 2014 May 15. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24833712 (View on PubMed)

Thut G, Pascual-Leone A. A review of combined TMS-EEG studies to characterize lasting effects of repetitive TMS and assess their usefulness in cognitive and clinical neuroscience. Brain Topogr. 2010 Jan;22(4):219-32. doi: 10.1007/s10548-009-0115-4. Epub 2009 Oct 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19862614 (View on PubMed)

Holtzheimer PE 3rd, McDonald WM, Mufti M, Kelley ME, Quinn S, Corso G, Epstein CM. Accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. Depress Anxiety. 2010 Oct;27(10):960-3. doi: 10.1002/da.20731.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20734360 (View on PubMed)

Fung PK, Robinson PA. Neural field theory of synaptic metaplasticity with applications to theta burst stimulation. J Theor Biol. 2014 Jan 7;340:164-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.09.021. Epub 2013 Sep 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Biswal B, Yetkin FZ, Haughton VM, Hyde JS. Functional connectivity in the motor cortex of resting human brain using echo-planar MRI. Magn Reson Med. 1995 Oct;34(4):537-41. doi: 10.1002/mrm.1910340409.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Greicius MD, Krasnow B, Reiss AL, Menon V. Functional connectivity in the resting brain: a network analysis of the default mode hypothesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 7;100(1):253-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0135058100. Epub 2002 Dec 27.

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18403396 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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54909

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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