RecruitingPhase 1/2

A Pilot Trial of One-Day Accelerated TMS and D-cycloserine in Suicidal Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder

United States20 participantsStarted 2026-06-09

Plain-language summary

This study tests a new treatment for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The treatment combines a medication called D-cycloserine with one day of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The main questions it aims to answer are: * How many participants complete the treatment? * How do participants feel about the treatment? * Does the treatment have neurophysiological changes on participants? * Does the treatment improve BPD symptoms? * Do the benefits last over time? Participants will be asked to: * Come to the clinic for interviews and testing * Complete weekly questionnaires for 4 weeks before the treatment day * Take D-cycloserine the night before treatment * Attend one treatment day at the clinic. On that day, they may receive up to 20 short TMS sessions (each lasting 3 minutes and separated by 30 minutes). This visit may last up to 12 hours. * Complete weekly questionnaires for 6 weeks after the treatment day.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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: * Adult (18+) of any gender * Meets DSM-5 criteria for BPD, per assessment with the Structured Clinic Interview for DSM-5 Personality Disorders (SCID-5-PD), BPD Module * Moderate to severe SI during the two weeks prior to screening, as indexed by a score of 9 or higher on the Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation - Self Report (Clum \& Yang, 1995) Exclusion Criteria: * Current manic or hypomanic symptoms, as assessed by the Diagnostic Assessment Research Tool (DART) screener and diagnostic modules, where relevant. * Current clinically significant psychotic symptoms not better accounted for by BPD, as assessed by the DART psychotic symptoms screener. * Current alcohol or substance use disorder, that in the opinion of a study PIs, is of sufficient severity to impede engagement in treatment or is associated with significant risk of medical withdrawal, as assessed by the DART. * Medical documentation or self-report of current anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorder not otherwise specified - atypical anorexia nervosa or atypical bulimia nervosa, that is in the opinion of a study PIs is of sufficient severity to be associated with significant medical risks * Acute suicide risk, sufficient to require immediate hospitalization; * history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion involving loss of consciousness or amnesia for ≥24 hours; * any significant neurological disorder likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure or cogniti…

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

Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)

Timeframe: Week 5

Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs)

Timeframe: Within 10 minutes pre- and 5 minutes post- treatment sessions 1,2,10,and final session

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07460947

SponsorMclean Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-06

Contact for this trial

Alexandra Velev, BA

617-855-3430 avelev@mclean.harvard.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) trials