Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression

This is a single-center 3-stage feasibility study of personalized closed-loop stimulation for treatment resistant Bipolar Depression. Depending on participant's results at each stage, he/she might not be eligible to proceed to all 3 stages.

Stage 1 of the study will involve surgically implanting small, thin electrodes in brain regions that regulate depression in order to identify personalized treatment sites. The researchers will test stimulation in the different brain regions and their effect on bipolar depression symptoms. The electrodes will be surgically removed at the end of Stage 1.

Stage 2 will involve a second brain surgery to implant the NeuroPace RNS® System. Researchers will use information from Stage 1 to decide where to implant the electrodes of the RNS System. Over the next ~4-18 months, participants will have regular study visits in the clinic where the researchers will determine a personalized brain activity pattern that correlates with depression symptoms and can be paired with stimulation to improve depression symptoms.

Stage 3 will be 36-40 weeks long and will involve turning ON and OFF the intervention to test its effectiveness. Participants will have a variable start time for Stage 3 to facilitate blinding of both patients and clinician raters. This variable time will be randomized from conditions of 0 days, 2 weeks, or 4 weeks (during which time participants will remain on optimized closed-loop stimulation). Each participant will have three 12-week periods: closed-loop stimulation (intervention), open-loop/fixed intermittent stimulation (active control), and sham (passive control), order counterbalanced.

At the end of this stage the participant can choose to continue with long-term follow-up or have the RNS System surgically removed.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 22-70
• Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-V (DSM-V) diagnostic criteria for Bipolar II Disorder, with an episode of depression lasting at least 1 year that is treatment resistant as defined above, without a manic or hypomanic episode in the last 2 years; patients must be taking a mood stabilizer (lithium >0.6 mEq/L or valproate >350 mM/L), an atypical antipsychotic, or a combination of a mood stabilizer and an atypical antipsychotic for at least 2 weeks at a stable dosage before starting the study and must continue taking anti-manic medication throughout their participation in the study unless discontinuation is necessary because of patient safety/health considerations.
• Must have either failed ECT (it was effective but not tolerated due to side effects; it was effective, but patients could not achieve a sustained response), not been able to complete a course of ECT due to side effects, or have been medically advised to receive ECT and have been unwilling or unable to obtain ECT.
• Has MADRS score of > 26 at two baseline visits
• Ability to complete repeated administrations of MDD rating scales.
• If patient is on a regimen of psychotropic medication, no changes in this regimen should be expected during the 4 weeks prior to entry into and the duration of the study.
• Willing and able to undergo invasive brain recording/stimulation study
• Willing and able to attend multiple research visits and perform at-home research protocol
• Willing and able to provide informed consent
• Ability to speak and read English

Exclusion criteria

• Meets DSM-V criteria for a psychotic disorder, eating disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, tic disorder, or another comorbid psychiatric disorder other than MDD or generalized anxiety disorder based on a SCID
• Generalized anxiety disorder is the primary DSM-V disorder during the current MDD episode
• Active suicidal ideation with intent and plan as defined by a score of 5 on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
• History of suicide attempt requiring hospitalization in previous 2 years.
• Meets criteria for alcohol or substance abuse or dependence (other than caffeine) in previous 6 months, determined by the SCID
• Has a personality disorder based on the investigator's assessment that the investigator believes will adversely impact subject compliance or safety
• Fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome
• Current condition requiring chronic narcotic use
• History of traumatic brain injury, another neurological disorder, or developmental delay
• History of seizures
• MRI (done within one year of the first visit) with significant abnormalities
• Previous ablative intracranial surgery or previously implanted deep brain stimulation system or any previously implanted device treatment involving brain stimulation
• Implantable hardware not compatible with MRI or with the study
• Major medical co-morbidities increasing the risk of surgery including severe diabetes, major organ system failure, history of hemorrhagic stroke, need for chronic anticoagulation other than aspirin, active infection, intracranial space occupying lesion, increased intracranial pressure, cardiovascular accident within the last month, aneurysm/abnormality, retinal detachment, unstable cardiovascular disease (recent myocardial infarction, severe ischemia, severe or uncontrolled hypertension), immunocompromised state, or malignancy with < 5 years life expectancy
• Inability to stop Coumadin or platelet anti-aggregation therapy for surgery and after surgery. - Patients taking these medications will need to discuss the need/risk of continuing these medications with their physicians and the PI or study personnel may contact the treating physician(s) to discuss the risks of anticoagulation/antiaggregation therapy discontinuation
• Coagulopathy. Patients will be excluded unless assessed and cleared by hematology
• Allergies or known hypersensitivity to materials in the NeuroPace RNS® System (i.e. titanium, polyurethane, silicone, polyetherimide, stainless steel)
• Subject lives alone without possibility of caregiver support post-hospital stay
• Inability to comply with study follow-up visits