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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00578383

Low Field Magnetic Stimulation in Mood Disorders Using the LFMS Device

This study is designed to test whether low-field magnetic stimulation (LFMS) can relieve some of the symptoms of depression in bipolar disorder or major depression.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

McLean Hospital

Belmont, Massachusetts, 02478, United States

About this study

This study involves a screening visit with the study physician and a treatment visit. Participants will be asked to complete several questionnaires about their mood during both visits. The treatment visit will involve use of the LFMS device. Participants will place the top of their head inside the device for approximately 20 minutes. Participants will receive either the actual treatment or a sham treatment and will not know which they receive. This device produces weak electromagnetic fields. There is no discomfort or even sensation caused by the device. The device has been declared to be a "non-significant risk device" by the FDA, and there are no known risks associated with its use.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder; must be currently depressed
  • May be medicated or unmedicated

Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindication for MRI due to metal in eyes/head
  • Claustrophobia.
  • Inability to lie flat.
  • History of brain injury.
  • Pregnant
  • Current drug use/abuse/dependence
  • History of polysubstance use

Treatment and study plan

Low Field Magnetic Stimulation Device

Device

The LFMS Device is an electromagnetic coil situated on a cylinder with an inside diameter of 13.2 inches. It produces weak electromagnetic fields at a frequency of about 1 kHz; the magnetic fields are less than 30 Gauss and the electric fields are up to 1.43 V/m. Subjects will receive one 20 minute treatment.

Other names: LFMS

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) (17 Item) in Subjects With Bipolar Depression

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    A multiple choice questionnaire used to rate depression severity. Mean change from pretreatment score. 17 items reflecting depression symptoms are scored on scale of severity; 9 items are scored 0 = Absent 1 = Trivial 2 = Mild 3 = Moderate 4 = Severe 8 items are scored 0 = Absent 1 = Mild 2 = Severe. Items are summed; minimum score is 0, maximum score is 52. Higher scores represent more severe depression.

  2. Mean Change in Hamilton Depression Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) (17 Item) in Subjects With Major Depressive Disorder

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    A multiple choice questionnaire used to rate depression severity. Mean change from pretreatment score. 17 items reflecting depression symptoms are scored on scale of severity; 9 items are scored 0 = Absent 1 = Trivial 2 = Mild 3 = Moderate 4 = Severe 8 items are scored 0 = Absent 1 = Mild 2 = Severe. Items are summed; minimum score is 0, maximum score is 52. Higher scores represent more severe depression.

  3. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in Subjects With Bipolar Depression

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    Eleven point Likert scales indicating immediate depression state. Mean change from pretreatment score. Participant marks an 'X' on a numbered line anchored by 0 = no depression and 10 = most depressed ever been.

  4. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in Subjects With Major Depressive Disorder

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    Eleven point Likert scales indicating immediate depression state. Mean change from pretreatment score. Participant marks an 'X' on a numbered line anchored by 0 = no depression and 10 = most depressed ever been.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) (17 Item): Combined Diagnostic Groups.

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    A multiple choice questionnaire used to rate depression severity. Mean change from pretreatment score. 17 items reflecting depression symptoms are scored on scale of severity; 9 items are scored 0 = Absent 1 = Trivial 2 = Mild 3 = Moderate 4 = Severe 8 items are scored 0 = Absent 1 = Mild 2 = Severe. Items are summed; minimum score is 0, maximum score is 52. Higher scores represent more severe depression.

  2. Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Combined Diagnostic Groups.

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    Eleven point Likert scales indicating immediate depression state. Mean change from pretreatment score. Participant marks an 'X' on a numbered line anchored by 0 = no depression and 10 = most depressed ever been.

  3. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Positive Score: Combined Diagnostic Group.

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    20 item list of words that describe different feelings and emotions with positive and negative valences (10 each), which the subject scores on a 1-5 scale: 1 = very slightly or not at all 2 = a little 3 = moderate 4 = quite a bit 5 = extremely. Positive and Negative scores are calculated and reported separately and range from 10-50. Higher positive score reflects stronger positive affect and higher negative score reflects stronger negative affect.

  4. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Negative Score: Combined Diagnostic Group.

    Time frame: once pre and once post LFMS treatment

    20 item list of words that describe different feelings and emotions with positive and negative valences (10 each), which the subject scores on a 1-5 scale: 1 = very slightly or not at all 2 = a little 3 = moderate 4 = quite a bit 5 = extremely. Positive and Negative scores are calculated and reported separately and range from 10-50. Higher positive score reflects stronger positive affect and higher negative score reflects stronger negative affect.

  5. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Positive Score in Subjects With Bipolar Depression.

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    20 item list of words that describe different feelings and emotions with positive and negative valences (10 each), which the subject scores on a 1-5 scale: 1 = very slightly or not at all 2 = a little 3 = moderate 4 = quite a bit 5 = extremely. Positive and Negative scores are calculated and reported separately and range from 10-50. Higher positive score reflects stronger positive affect and higher negative score reflects stronger negative affect.

  6. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Positive Score in Subjects With Major Depressive Disorder

    Time frame: Once just before and once just after treatment

    20 item list of words that describe different feelings and emotions with positive and negative valences (10 each), which the subject scores on a 1-5 scale: 1 = very slightly or not at all 2 = a little 3 = moderate 4 = quite a bit 5 = extremely. Positive and Negative scores are calculated and reported separately and range from 10-50. Higher positive score reflects stronger positive affect and higher negative score reflects stronger negative affect.

  7. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Negative Score in Subjects With Bipolar Depression

    Time frame: once pre and once post LFMS treatment

    20 item list of words that describe different feelings and emotions with positive and negative valences (10 each), which the subject scores on a 1-5 scale: 1 = very slightly or not at all 2 = a little 3 = moderate 4 = quite a bit 5 = extremely. Positive and Negative scores are calculated and reported separately and range from 10-50. Higher positive score reflects stronger positive affect and higher negative score reflects stronger negative affect.

  8. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Negative Score in Subjects With Major Depressive Disorder

    Time frame: once pre and once post LFMS treatment

    20 item list of words that describe different feelings and emotions with positive and negative valences (10 each), which the subject scores on a 1-5 scale: 1 = very slightly or not at all 2 = a little 3 = moderate 4 = quite a bit 5 = extremely. Positive and Negative scores are calculated and reported separately and range from 10-50. Higher positive score reflects stronger positive affect and higher negative score reflects stronger negative affect.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mclean Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Stanley Medical Research Institute

Registry information

Acronym: LFMS

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2013
First posted
Dec 21, 2007
Registry last updated
May 16, 2016

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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