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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06874374

Individualized Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

The purpose of this research study is to study a closed-loop transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) device to evaluate feasibility of the product in a clinical trial and collect preliminary data on potential effects on symptoms of depression in people with major depressive disorder.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Carolina Center for Neurostimulation

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States

About this study

The purpose of this study is to investigate device feasibility and performance of the XCSITE 100 Pro V2 device and assess preliminary efficacy of closed-loop transcranial alternating current stimulation (CL-tACS) for reducing symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) in a double-blind, sham-controlled, parallel group, single-site clinical trial. A total of 40 participants will be randomized to receive active or sham CL-tACS via carbon-silicone electrodes for up to 40 minutes over 5 consecutive days. Device feasibility and performance data will be collected from every stimulation session. Clinical assessments of depression and related symptoms will be performed at Baseline (Day 1), End Of Treatment (EOT; Day 5), and Follow-Up (FUP, 2-weeks post-treatment, Day 19). High-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG) will be performed at Baseline, EOT and FUP. An optional MRI will be performed up to 30 days before, or on Baseline, to provide anatomical data for EEG brain connectivity analysis.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Any gender, aged 18 - 70
  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
  • DSM-5 diagnosis of unipolar, non-psychotic MDD as evidenced by the DIAMOND
  • HDRS-17 score ≥14
  • Low suicide risk (defined for this study as no active suicidal ideation in the past month and no suicide attempts, preparatory actions, or significant non-suicidal self-harm in the previous 2 years). Risk will be assessed utilizing the C-SSRS screen and triage version with further exploration of positive responses.
  • Capacity to understand all relevant risks and potential benefits of the study (informed consent)
  • For people of childbearing potential: use of highly effective contraception as determined by the Investigator for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation

Exclusion criteria

  • DSM-5 diagnosis of severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) within the last 12 months, as evidenced by the DIAMOND
  • DSM-5 diagnosis of moderate to severe substance use disorder (excluding tobacco) within the last 12 months, as evidenced by the DIAMOND
  • Lifetime history of bipolar disorder, as evidenced by DIAMOND
  • Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, as evidenced by DIAMOND
  • History of autism spectrum disorder
  • Initiated any new psychotropic medication in the 6 weeks prior to screening or had a dose change in the preceding 6 weeks
  • Initiated a new course of psychotherapy in the 6 weeks preceding screening
  • Received any neurostimulation treatment in the 6 weeks preceding screening
  • History of seizures (excluding febrile seizures in childhood or Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) induced seizures)
  • Neurological disorders that would increase risk of participation or present a significant confounder in the opinion of the investigator (for example, dementia, history of stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, history of traumatic brain injury with prolonged loss of consciousness, ruptured cerebral aneurysm, previous CNS radiation)
  • Previously failed to respond to ECT or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
  • Prior brain surgery and/or brain implants
  • Implanted medical device that uses electricity
  • Current pregnancy or lactation
  • Currently enrolled in another clinical trial for depression
  • For the optional MRI session only: Contraindication to MRI according to MRI Screening Form
  • Unstable medical disorder or anything that would place the participant at increased risk or preclude the participant's full compliance with or completion of the study, in the opinion of the Investigator

Treatment and study plan

Closed-loop tACS

Device

Individual alpha tACS

Other names: CL-tACS

Sham Comparator

Device

Sham stimulation

Primary outcomes

  1. Correct Assignment by Device of Study Arm

    Time frame: 5 days

    Successful assignment by device software to correct study arm for each participant for each session, Day 1 (D1) through Day 5 (D5). Measured as percentage of successful assignments compared to intended programming.

  2. Accuracy of Device Study Arm Parameters by Device

    Time frame: 5 days

    Verification of correct study arm parameters applied by device for each participant for each session, Day 1 (D1) through Day 5 (D5).

  3. Accuracy of Stimulation Initiation Based on EEG by Device

    Time frame: 5 days

    Verification of correct stimulation initiation decisions for each evaluated EEG window by device for each participant for each session, Day 1 (D1) through Day 5 (D5).

  4. Accuracy of Device Logs Uploaded to Cloud by Device

    Time frame: 5 days

    Verification of equivalence between logs stored on local device and corresponding logs uploaded to cloud for each participant for each session, Day 1 (D1) through Day 5 (D5).

Secondary outcomes

  1. HDRS-17 Change

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Change in HDRS-17 from two week follow-up (FUP) to D1 between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms; minimum value is 0, maximum value is 52. Higher scores indicate worse outcome.

  2. Change in Alpha Oscillation Power

    Time frame: 5 Days

    Change in EEG alpha oscillation power between D1 and D5 between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms.

Other outcomes

  1. Change in Alpha Oscillation Power and Connectivity

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Change in HD-EEG alpha oscillation power and connectivity at D1, D5, and FUP between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms.

  2. Remission Rate

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Difference in remission rates between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms at FUP. Remission defined as HDRS-17 score of less than or equal to 7.

  3. Response Rate

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Difference in response rates between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms at FUP. Response defined as greater than or equal to 50% reduction in HDRS-17 score from D1 to FUP.

  4. SSRI Effect on HDRS-17 Change

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Change in HDRS-17 for Experimental study arm from two week follow-up (FUP) to D1 between patients on SSRI medication and patients not on SSRI medication; minimum value is 0, maximum value is 52. Higher scores indicate worse outcome.

  5. Change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS)

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Change in QIDS from D1 to FUP between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms; minimum value is 0, maximum value is 27. Higher scores indicate worse outcome.

  6. Change in Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Change in SHAPS from D1 to FUP between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms; minimum value is 0, maximum value is 14. Higher scores indicate worse outcome.

  7. Change in Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, short form (Q-LES-Q-SF)

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Change in Q-LES-Q-SF from D1 to FUP between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms; minimum value is 0, maximum value is 14. Higher scores indicate worse outcome.

  8. Change in Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI)

    Time frame: 21 Days

    Change in CGI from D1 to FUP between Experimental and Sham Comparator study arms; CGI scale contains two scoring components, 1) Severity of Illness (0-7) and 2) Global Improvement (0-7). Higher scores in component 1 indicate worse symptoms while higher numbers in component 2 indicate worse clinical outcomes.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Pulvinar Neuro, LLC

Industry

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Registry information

Official study title

Closed-Loop Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (CL-tACS) for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Randomized Pilot Study

Acronym: CL-tACS RCT

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 13, 2025
Registry last updated
May 15, 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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