The Use of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety

NCT ID: NCT04250441

Last Updated: 2023-03-24

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

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-11-01

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this open label study is to evaluate longer term tolerability and early efficacy of transcranial ultrasound in the treatment of patients with refractory depression and anxiety.

Detailed Description

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The present study is designed as an open label study of patients with refractory depression and anxiety to evaluate longer term tolerability and early efficacy of transcranial ultrasound treatment. Baseline and outcome measures in this study utilize validated tests that are appropriate for repeated measures which are not affected by practice effects. For patients with refractory depression, the target will be the subgenual cingulate (Brodmann's area 25) through a trans temporal scalp window. For patients with anxiety, the target will be the amygdala. Targeting will include reference to scalp fiducials based on the obtained MRI and Doppler waveform confirmation will be obtained because of the ability of TCD to record Doppler signal from the posterior cerebral artery that runs medial to the mesial temporal lobe.

On the day of the ultrasound appointment, patients will undergo ten to thirty minutes of transcranial ultrasound treatment. The sonification device will be aimed at the subgenual cingulate or amygdala, depending on the predetermined condition. Targeting will include reference to scalp fiducials based on the obtained MRI; confirmation of target accuracy will either be obtained by Doppler waveform confirmation or optical tracking technology which co-registers patient neuroimaging with real space. Patients will undergo 8 total sessions of focused ultrasound. Patients will be evaluated at baseline and upon final ultrasound treatment using the same measures obtained upon entry. Safety and any adverse events will be monitored closely.

Conditions

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Depression Anxiety

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Treatment

All patients enrolled will receive transcranial focused ultrasound. Target location is dependent on patient condition.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Focused Transcranial Ultrasound

Intervention Type DEVICE

The FDA has determined that power intensity limits of 720 mW/cm squared at 2 megaHertz is safe for clinical use; the proposed equipment works within these parameters. Furthermore, monitoring sessions up to one hour as proposed in this study are routinely used in patients even with acute brain injury at 2 megaHertz without any reports of complications induced by the ultrasound device. No brain heating, cavitation or bleeding has been identified with the proposed equipment and protocol. For each individual safety can be followed by performing a selective mental status exam at each session completion.

Interventions

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Focused Transcranial Ultrasound

The FDA has determined that power intensity limits of 720 mW/cm squared at 2 megaHertz is safe for clinical use; the proposed equipment works within these parameters. Furthermore, monitoring sessions up to one hour as proposed in this study are routinely used in patients even with acute brain injury at 2 megaHertz without any reports of complications induced by the ultrasound device. No brain heating, cavitation or bleeding has been identified with the proposed equipment and protocol. For each individual safety can be followed by performing a selective mental status exam at each session completion.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
* Score greater than 13 on the Beck Depression Inventory
* Failure to remit with 3 antidepressants
* At least 18 years of age


* Diagnosis of Generalized or Acute Anxiety Disorder
* Score greater than 15 on the Beck Anxiety Inventory
* Failure to remit with 3 anxiolytics
* At least 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

* Cognitive decline clearly related to an acute illness
* Subjects unable to give informed consent
* Subjects who would not be able to lay down without excessive movement in a calm environment sufficiently long enough to be able to achieve sleep
* Recent surgery or dental work within 3 months of the scheduled procedure.
* Pregnancy, women who may become pregnant or are breastfeeding
* Advanced terminal illness
* Any active cancer or chemotherapy
* Any other neoplastic illness or illness characterized by neovascularity
* Macular degeneration
* Subjects with scalp rash or open wounds on the scalp (for example from treatment of squamous cell cancer)
* Advanced kidney, pulmonary, cardiac or liver failure
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

93 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Neurological Associates of West Los Angeles

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Sheldon Jordan, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Neurological Associates - the Interventional Group

Locations

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Neurological Associates of West LA

Santa Monica, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Other Identifiers

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32222-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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