Comparison of Targeting Methods for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment of Depression

Prior studies suggest that treatment efficacy for TMS treatment of depression is affected by the targeting method used to guide TMS coil placement. We will compare the treatment outcome for three patient groups. TMS coil placement is guided for group 1) with simple scalp measurement targeting, for group 2) with a mixed reality neuronavigation system.

The treatment schedule for the medically prescribed TMS treatment for each patient are 30 daily weekday repetitive TMS treatments for 6 weeks with an additional 6 treatments tapered over 3 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female subjects ages 18-75.
• MRI scanning eligibility, including no evidence of any form of metal embedded in the body (e.g., metal wires, nuts, bolts, screws, plates, sutures), as these produce artifacts when brain imaging. All potential subjects for the MRI component will need to successfully complete the screening forms at the Stanford Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging (CNI) or the Lucas Center. Those subjects who present no contraindications to being scanned will be allowed to participate.
• Healthy subjects with no history of any Axis I psychiatric disorder, are taking psychotropic medication, or use illicit drugs.
• Clinical subjects with a diagnosis of treatment resistant depression and prescribed a clinical course of treatment with rTMS.

Exclusion criteria

• Any contraindication to being scanned in the 3.0T scanner at the Lucas Center or CNI such as having a pacemaker or implanted device that has not been cleared for scanning at 3.0 Tesla.
• History of neurological disorders including but not limited to brain surgery, deep brain stimulation, radiation treatment, brain hemorrhage or tumor, stroke, seizures or epilepsy, head trauma.