CompletedNot Applicable

Concurrent fMRI-guided rTMS and Cognitive Therapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Episodes

United States32 participantsStarted 2018-05-17

Plain-language summary

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment for depression. It stimulates the brain. Researchers want to see if using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans helps locate the best area for rTMS in each person. They also want to find other ways to make it more effective. Objective: To study the effects of combining MRI- guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and talk therapy on the brain in people with depression. Eligibility: Adults ages 18-75 with a major depressive disorder and current depression. If taking an antidepressant, should have been doing so for at least 4 weeks. Design: Participants will be screened with medical and psychiatric history, psychiatric evaluation, physical exam, and blood and urine tests. Phase 1 is 1-4 visits in 1 week. Participants will have: * Brain MRI. Participants will lie on a table in a scanner. * Questions about their medical history and psychology symptoms * Tests of mood and thinking * Tests of brain activity. Participants may do tasks during these tests: * A cone with magnetic detectors is put on the head. * A cap with electrodes is put on the scalp. * TMS. A brief electrical current passes through a wire coil on the scalp. * A metal disk will be placed on the arm. A nerve will be stimulated with a small electrical shock. Phase 2 is about 6 to 7 weeks. * There will be 30 daily sessions of combined therapy and repetitive TMS (rTMS) for 6 weeks. * Participants will receive rTMS and another therapy by computer. * For rTMS, repeated pulses will pass through the coil. * This is followed by up to 3 additional visits, when: * Participants will repeat Phase 1 tests * Participants will rate their depression symptoms. Phase 3 is 3 visits over 3 months. Participants will rate their depression symptoms and repeat some of the previous questionnaires and tests of mood and thinking.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. 18 to 75 years of age.
. Use of effective method of birth control for women able to become pregnant
. English speaker
. Major Depressive Episode Diagnosis, and Severity:
. Subjects will meet the DSM-IV-TR primary diagnosis of initial or recurrent Major Depressive Disorder by DSM-IV-TR criteria
. HAM-D score \> 17 and Item 1 score greater than or equal to 2. Alternatively: At the initial screening and beginning of Phase II, subjects must have a baseline score on the MADRS \>= 20 and YMRS of \< 12.
. Current or past history of lack of response to at least one adequate antidepressant trial, operationally defined using the Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF); a failed adequate trial of ECT would count as an adequate antidepressant trial (unless the ECT occurred within the last year, in which case the participant will be excluded).

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in magnitude of Bold signal

Timeframe: 6 weeks after initiating intervention

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03289923

SponsorNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-11-20

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Major Depressive Disorder trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. 18 to 75 years of age.
. Use of effective method of birth control for women able to become pregnant
. English speaker
. Major Depressive Episode Diagnosis, and Severity:
. Subjects will meet the DSM-IV-TR primary diagnosis of initial or recurrent Major Depressive Disorder by DSM-IV-TR criteria
. HAM-D score \> 17 and Item 1 score greater than or equal to 2. Alternatively: At the initial screening and beginning of Phase II, subjects must have a baseline score on the MADRS \>= 20 and YMRS of \< 12.
. Current or past history of lack of response to at least one adequate antidepressant trial, operationally defined using the Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF); a failed adequate trial of ECT would count as an adequate antidepressant trial (unless the ECT occurred within the last year, in which case the participant will be excluded).

Concurrent fMRI-guided rTMS and Cognitive Therapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Episodes

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Inclusion criteria

Questions worth asking your doctor

Questions for the trial coordinator

What they're measuring

Trial details

Concurrent fMRI-guided rTMS and Cognitive Therapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Episodes

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Inclusion criteria

Questions worth asking your doctor

Questions for the trial coordinator

What they're measuring

Trial details

Exclusion criteria