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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT04657432

Brief, High-dose rTMS for Depression

High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to be safe, feasible, and acceptable. Conventionally, rTMS investigations have relied on rational decision trees for dosage determination. The purpose of this study is to systematically examine an accelerated protocol of intermittent theta burst (iTBS). Study 1 aims to provide a quantifiable dose-response curve for iTBS and depressive symptom reduction in major depression. Study 2 aims to determine the role of individual variations of their functional networks compared to the site of stimulation and clinical outcomes.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Depression Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • A negative urine pregnancy test, if female subject of childbearing potential.
  • Able to speak English and complete study forms, adhere to treatment regimens, and be willing to return for regular visits.
  • After full explanation of the study, willingness of participant is demonstrated by signing the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

  • Clinically unstable medical disease:
  • cardiovascular
  • renal
  • gastrointestinal
  • pulmonary
  • metabolic
  • endocrine
  • other
  • CNS disease deemed progressive
  • Moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Pregnant females or those currently breast-feeding.
  • Current or history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, except psychosis not otherwise specified (NOS) when the presence of sensory hallucinations is clearly related to the subject's trauma, Bipolar Type I disorder, or dementia:
  • vascular
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • other types
  • Repeated abuse or dependence upon drugs (excluding nicotine and caffeine) within 6 days of study entry, with the exception of alcohol use disorder, which, at the discretion of the study team, may be permitted.

See further explanation under protection from risk.

  • Active participation or plan for enrollment in another evidence-based psychotherapeutic clinical trial
  • Participation in other psychotherapeutic modalities must have been stable for 3 months prior to enrollment and must remain stable throughout participation.
  • Currently taking medications that have short half-lives, lower the seizure threshold, and do not have evidence of antidepressant efficacy. These include:
  • high dose theophylline or stimulants such as methylphenidate patients taking bupropion must be on a stable dose and take less than or equal to 300 mg/day. Stable means the same dose for 5 half-lives.
  • An implanted device in subject's head (shunt, cochlear implant) and/or metal in subject's head (other than dental implant).
  • History of seizures or a seizure disorder.

Treatment and study plan

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Device

MagVenture MagPro TMS System would be utilized to deliver 3-minute sessions of intermittent theta burst to left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Primary outcomes

  1. Depression severity (change in score)

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Depression severity as assessed by:

    • Hamilton Scale for Depression (HAM-D) Eight items are scored on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 = not present to 4 = severe. Nine are scored from 0-2. 10 - 13 mild; 14-17 mild to moderate; >17 moderate to severe.

  2. Depression severity (change in score)

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Depression severity as assessed by:

    • Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Rating lies on the defined scale steps (0, 2, 4, 6) or between them (1, 3, 5). Cut-off points include: 0 to 6 - symptom absent, 7 to 19 - mild depression, 30 to 34 - moderate, 35 to 60 - severe depression.

  3. Depression severity (change in score)

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Depression severity as assessed by:

    • Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) Rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3 based on severity of each item. The maximum total score is 63.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Inventory of Depression and Anxious Symptoms (IDAS-II)

    -Questions are rated on a scale from 1-5 and covers a wide array of psychological measures

  2. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire

    -Questions designed to assess symptoms of general distress using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1"not at all" to 5 "extremely".

  3. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Penn State Worry Questionnaire

    -Questions are rated on a scale from: 1-Not at all typical of me to 5-Very typical of me. Possible range of scores is 16-80 with the algorithm of Total scores: 16-39 Low Worry, 40-59 Moderate Worry, and 60-80 High Worry

  4. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • PTSD Checklist (PCL-5)

    The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. The PCL-5 has a variety of purposes, including:

    Monitoring symptom change during and after treatment Screening individuals for PTSD Making a provisional PTSD diagnosis

    -Questions are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = "Not at all" to 4 = "Extremely")

  5. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Life Events Checklist (LEC-5) The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5) is a self-report measure designed to screen for potentially traumatic events in a respondent's lifetime. The LEC-5 assesses exposure to 16 events known to potentially result in PTSD or distress and includes one additional item assessing any other extraordinarily stressful event not captured in the first 16 items.

    -Responses are as followed: Happened to me; Witnessed it; Learned about it; Part of my job; Not sure; Doesn't apply

  6. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Childhood Trauma Questionnaire

    -The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire is a brief survey of six early traumatic experiences (death, divorce, violence, sexual abuse, illness or other), and assesses individual's understanding of their childhood trauma.

  7. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence

    -Yes/no items are scored from 0 to 1 and multiple-choice items are scored from 0 to 3. The items are summed to yield a total score of 0-10. The higher the total Fagerström score, the more intense is the patient's physical dependence on nicotine.

  8. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

    -The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-item screening tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behaviors, and alcohol-related problems.

  9. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0)

    -Questions are rated on a a 5 point scale (from 0-4) Likert scale

  10. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Form (WHOQOL-BF)

    -Questions are rated on a a 5 point scale (from 1-5) Likert scale

  11. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Illness Intrusive Rating Scale (IIRS)

    -Questions are rated on a a 7 point scale (from 1-7) Likert scale which is a measure of the psychosocial impact of chronic disease

  12. Comorbid symptom severity, functional impairment, acceptability, and tolerability

    Time frame: Day 1, post-treatment point of 1 month

    Participants would complete various questionnaires (change in score assessed):

    • Quality of Life and Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire -Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF)

    -Questions are rated on a 5 point scale (from 1-5) Likert scale. The minimum raw score on the Q-LES-Q-SF is 14, and the maximum score is 70.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medical University of South Carolina

Other

Collaborators

  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression

Registry information

Official study title

Accelerated Repetitive TMS for Affective Dysfunction: Establishing the Dose-Response Curve

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Dec 8, 2020
Registry last updated
Apr 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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