Study Results
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Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
70 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2023-08-02
2026-04-30
Brief Summary
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Here the investigators propose to conduct the first double-blinded, randomised sham-controlled study to directly compare the therapeutic effectiveness and acceptability of both treatment modalities.
Participants will be recruited and treated at one inpatient setting (Northside Clinic, St Leonards, Sydney). This facility is one of the largest specialist eating disorder settings in Australia with approximately 130 new admissions every year (2019 data). All participants who give consent and who fulfill the eligibility criteria will be randomised to receive active tDCS, sham (placebo) tDCS, active rTMS or sham rTMS over 8 weeks. Trial participants, their treating psychiatrist, ward staff, and a study staff member (who will conduct blinded assessments of mood secondary outcome measures) will be blinded after assignment to intervention until the database is locked and the primary analysis completed. All participants will complete assessments of eating disorder symptoms, mood, psychological symptoms, neurocognition and functioning at baseline, end of week 4, 8 and 20.
Expected outcomes include data on the relative effectiveness and acceptability for both treatment modalities in the inpatient and at-home setting (i.e., for at-home tDCS). The investigators expect that both active treatment arms will produce clinical benefits and have high acceptability, and that clinical benefits will be maintained with long-term at-home tDCS continuation treatment. These outcomes have potential to assist in reducing hospital stay and emergency re-admissions and improving day to day functioning in participants. Health economic data for both treatment modalities will additionally have utility from a service perspective, given the disparity in resource requirements between the two treatments (TMS, tDCS) in terms of costs for patients and access to treatment for people living in remote and rural areas (i.e., for at-home tDCS).
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
* Unblinded personnel (i.e., Neurostimulation Nurse(s) and/or tDCS research assistant), will be present during rTMS treatment delivery. tDCS will be self administered in the presence of ward staff. Team members involved in conducting blinded assessments for mood (i.e., MADRS) must not be present in the room during research treatment delivery.
* Knowledge of the code (i.e., which of 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' refers to which randomised treatment) will only be known to study staff responsible for treatment delivery, the study CI and study statistician involved in the study.
Study Groups
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Active transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
It will be given continuously for 30 minutes at 2 mA, twice daily (separated by \>=2 hours) over the first 4 weeks, and daily over the second 4 weeks of the 8 week acute treatment period (84 sessions total).
tDCS mini-CT Stimulator (Soterix, USA: ARTG: 284637)
tDCS will be self-administered using the 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator (Soterix, USA: ARTG: 284637) with two saline-soaked sponge electrodes held in place on the scalp using the Soterix Ole-2 headband. The device is intended to treat different neurological and psychiatric disorders. tDCS involves the passing of weak electrical current through the brain via electrodes placed upon the scalp. The current modulates the resting membrane potential of stimulated neurons which causes changes in neuronal excitability. The anode will be placed over the left F3 (10-20 System) and the cathode over F4 (electrode sizes 5 x 5cm, 25cm2). This montage was chosen to target the left DLPFC, consistent with prior pilot studies of tDCS in AN.
Sham transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
It will involve an initial ramping up to 0.5 mA and then a ramp down to 0 mA for the remainder of each treatment. The same number of sessions as active tDCS will be administered.
tDCS mini-CT Stimulator (Soterix, USA: ARTG: 284637)
tDCS will be self-administered using the 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator (Soterix, USA: ARTG: 284637) with two saline-soaked sponge electrodes held in place on the scalp using the Soterix Ole-2 headband. The device is intended to treat different neurological and psychiatric disorders. tDCS involves the passing of weak electrical current through the brain via electrodes placed upon the scalp. The current modulates the resting membrane potential of stimulated neurons which causes changes in neuronal excitability. The anode will be placed over the left F3 (10-20 System) and the cathode over F4 (electrode sizes 5 x 5cm, 25cm2). This montage was chosen to target the left DLPFC, consistent with prior pilot studies of tDCS in AN.
Active Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Active rTMS twice per day (separated by ≥ 2 hours) over the first 4 weeks. Two sessions per day (separated by ≥ 2 hours), given on 2 days each week for the following 4 weeks. The total number of rTMS sessions over the 8 week acute treatment period will be 56.
MagPro TMS device (ARTG: 204659)
rTMS will be administered using a MagPro TMS device (ARTG: 204659) which is approved for its intended use in this trial. rTMS involves the application of transient magnetic pulses which induce small currents in the underlying cortex via the principal of electromagnetic induction. rTMS will be administered using a patterned frequency stimulus called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS).This form of rTMS was chosen because a recent large multicentre trial showed 3 minutes of iTBS attained the same therapeutic effect as 30 minutes of standard rTMS, leading to FDA approval for depression. Each treatment session will comprise an extended iTBS session, i.e., 6.6 mins, delivered at 100% resting motor threshold (RMT). It will be targeted to the left DLPFC (F3 using the 10-20 International EEG system), consistent with the prior RCT of rTMS for AN.
Sham Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Sham rTMS twice per day (separated by ≥ 2 hours) over the first 4 weeks. Two sessions per day (separated by ≥ 2 hours), given on 2 days each week for the following 4 weeks. The same number of sessions as active rTMS will be administered.
MagPro TMS device (ARTG: 204659)
rTMS will be administered using a MagPro TMS device (ARTG: 204659) which is approved for its intended use in this trial. rTMS involves the application of transient magnetic pulses which induce small currents in the underlying cortex via the principal of electromagnetic induction. rTMS will be administered using a patterned frequency stimulus called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS).This form of rTMS was chosen because a recent large multicentre trial showed 3 minutes of iTBS attained the same therapeutic effect as 30 minutes of standard rTMS, leading to FDA approval for depression. Each treatment session will comprise an extended iTBS session, i.e., 6.6 mins, delivered at 100% resting motor threshold (RMT). It will be targeted to the left DLPFC (F3 using the 10-20 International EEG system), consistent with the prior RCT of rTMS for AN.
Interventions
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MagPro TMS device (ARTG: 204659)
rTMS will be administered using a MagPro TMS device (ARTG: 204659) which is approved for its intended use in this trial. rTMS involves the application of transient magnetic pulses which induce small currents in the underlying cortex via the principal of electromagnetic induction. rTMS will be administered using a patterned frequency stimulus called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS).This form of rTMS was chosen because a recent large multicentre trial showed 3 minutes of iTBS attained the same therapeutic effect as 30 minutes of standard rTMS, leading to FDA approval for depression. Each treatment session will comprise an extended iTBS session, i.e., 6.6 mins, delivered at 100% resting motor threshold (RMT). It will be targeted to the left DLPFC (F3 using the 10-20 International EEG system), consistent with the prior RCT of rTMS for AN.
tDCS mini-CT Stimulator (Soterix, USA: ARTG: 284637)
tDCS will be self-administered using the 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator (Soterix, USA: ARTG: 284637) with two saline-soaked sponge electrodes held in place on the scalp using the Soterix Ole-2 headband. The device is intended to treat different neurological and psychiatric disorders. tDCS involves the passing of weak electrical current through the brain via electrodes placed upon the scalp. The current modulates the resting membrane potential of stimulated neurons which causes changes in neuronal excitability. The anode will be placed over the left F3 (10-20 System) and the cathode over F4 (electrode sizes 5 x 5cm, 25cm2). This montage was chosen to target the left DLPFC, consistent with prior pilot studies of tDCS in AN.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* A current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition DSM-5) diagnosis of anorexia nervosa
* Willing and able to participate and comply with study requirements
* Worked or studied in a context requiring some proficiency in spoken English (to ensure validity of neuropsychological testing)
* Under ongoing care by his/her own treating psychiatrist (to ensure patient safety during the study)
Exclusion Criteria
* Contraindications to tDCS/rTMS
* Failed to respond to an adequate course or rTMS (4 weeks) within the current illness course
* Had ECT in the last 3 months
* MoCA score of \<26
* Significant risk of significant self harm or suicide as assessed by study psychiatrist(s)
* Currently enrolled in another interventional clinical trial or using an investigational device/product
16 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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The University of New South Wales
OTHER
The George Institute
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Sloane Madden, Assoc. Prof.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Sydney, Ramsay Health Care
Locations
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Northside Clinic
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Countries
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Central Contacts
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References
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Other Identifiers
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2021-016
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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