Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT06999330

TMS in Anxiety-Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's dementia. Anxiety in PD is common, has major effects on quality of life and contributes to increased disability. The reported prevalence of anxiety in PD ranges widely and is estimated up to 40%. Treatment with oral medications is not always effective or tolerated. TMS has been shown to be effective and safe in anxiety and general anxiety disorder (GAD), but there is only limited data available for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) treatment of anxiety in PD. Area 8Av is a parcellation based on Human connectome project within the left prefrontal cortex and is associated with GAD. Given the area's associations with mood disorders, its functional connectivity with large-scale brain networks involved in PD, and its anatomical accessibility by TMS, this may be an important target for anxiety in PD.

Enrolling by Invitation

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Parkinsons Disease (PD) Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Mental Disorders Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinson Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

40 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

HealthPartners Neuroscience Center

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55130, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Subject has Idiopathic PD defined by the cardinal sign, bradykinesia, plus the presence of at least 1 of the following: resting tremor or rigidity and without any other known or suspected cause of Parkinsonism (according to MDS clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease (42) Postuma et al, Movement Disorders 2015), confirmed by a fellowship trained movements disorder specialist.
  • Subject has a diagnosis of anxiety based on PAS (Parkinson's anxiety scale) score of ≥ 14
  • Subject is Hoehn & Yahr stage less than or equal to 3
  • Subject has a MOCA score ≥ 18
  • Subject is ≥ 40 and ≤ 90 years of age
  • Female subjects are post-menopausal or have a negative pregnancy test
  • The subject must be proficient in speaking, reading and understanding English in order to comply with procedural testing
  • Subject has provided informed written consent prior to participation. In the event that subject is legally unable to provide informed written consent due to deterioration in cognitive abilities, fully informed written consent must be provided by a legally authorized representative.
  • Subject is on a stable dose (at least 1 month prior to baseline visit) of antiparkinsonian agents and is willing to remain on this dose for the duration of the study. If the subject is on a anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication, a stable dose without changes for 1 month is also required.

Exclusion criteria

  • Inability to tolerate imaging; contraindication of imaging due to implants or metal. This includes an implanted deep brain stimulation device.
  • Seizure disorder, active alcohol or substance use disorder.
  • Inability to speak and read English.
  • Anything else that, in the opinion of the PI/Clinician, would place the subject at increased risk or preclude the subject's full compliance with or completion of the study.
  • Subject has atypical Parkinson's syndrome(s) due to drugs (e.g., metoclopramide, neuroleptics), metabolic neurogenetic disorders (e.g., Wilson's Disease), encephalitis, cerebrovascular disease, or degenerative disease (e.g., Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Corticobasal Degeneration, Lewy Body dementia)
  • Other forms of advanced dementia (PDD, AD), or MOCA <18
  • Subject has history of any of the following: moderate to severe pulmonary disease, poorly controlled congestive heart failure, significant cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular events within previous 6 months, or any other clinically relevant abnormality that inclusion would pose a safety risk to the subject as determined by investigator.
  • Subject has history of any psychiatric illness that would pose a safety risk to the subject as determined by investigator.
  • Subject is currently taking sedative medications that are clinically contraindicated as determined by investigator.
  • Subject has undergone a recent change (<1 month) in their anti-parkinsonian medication, or anti-depressant medication or anti-anxiety medication at the baseline visit.
  • Safety risk to the subject as determined by investigator.
  • Subject has participated in a clinical trial investigation within 3 months of this study

Treatment and study plan

Theta burst stimulation active coil

Device

MagVenture TMS Therapy active coil with theta burst stimulation. Resting motor threshold: 90%; Number of pulses per session: 1200 pulses; Inter-train interval: 8 seconds; Pulse frequency in burst: 50 Hertz; Session length: 10 min; Time between sessions: 50 minutes.

Other names: Transmagnetic stimulation, MagVenture

Sham coil

Device

MagVenture TMS Therapy sham coil

Primary outcomes

  1. Recruitment Rate

    Time frame: screening

    Percentage of participant who enroll and consent based on those contacted. A higher percentage indicates higher feasibility.

  2. Participation Rate

    Time frame: 3 weeks

    Percentage of participant who start treatment after enrollment. A higher percentage indicates higher feasibility.

  3. Fidelity

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Percentage of participant who complete all treatment sessions. A higher percentage indicates higher fidelity.

  4. Completion Rate

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Percentage of participant who complete 7 of the 9 treatment visits. A higher percentage indicates higher completion.

  5. Adverse Events Rate - Safety

    Time frame: up to 12 weeks

    Percentage of participant with adverse events. A lower percentage indicates a safer treatment.

  6. Adverse Events Safety

    Time frame: up to 12 weeks

    Frequency of each adverse event. A higher frequency indicates a less safe treatment.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Average change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment TMS vs Sham - Anxiety Scale

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS) is a 12-item scale developed to assess anxiety in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Items are scored on a 5 point Likert scale. Range [0-48]. A higher score indicates higher anxiety

  2. Average change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment TMS vs Sham - Cognitive scale

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a brief cognitive screening measure that has been validated for use among individuals with Alzheimer's disease. The total score for this test is 30 points, but one point will be added for individuals with ≤ 12 years of education. The cutoff point for normal cognition is 26/30 in the general population and in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. This will be conducted by clinical staff and gathered as part of the chart review. Range: [0-30]. Higher score indicates higher cognitive health.

  3. Average change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment TMS vs Sham - Mood

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The Geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) short form is a screening measure for depression in older patients. Range [0-15]. A higher score indicates more depressive symptoms.

  4. Average change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment TMS vs Sham - Motor

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is the most widely used clinical rating scale for Parkinson's disease. Only part III of the rating scale is used, which is a clinician-scored monitored motor evaluation, allowing ratings from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (severe symptoms) for each Parkinson's motor symptom. The Movement Disorders Society (MDS) commissioned a revision of the scale, resulting in a new version, termed the MDS sponsored UPDRS revision (MDS-UPDRS). In this study, the MDS-UDPRS version will be used. Range [7-86]. A higher score indicates more severe motor symptoms.

  5. Pre-post change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment within individuals in active TMS group - Anxiety Scale

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS) is a 12-item scale developed to assess anxiety in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Items are scored on a 5 point Likert scale. Range [0-48]. A higher score indicates higher anxiety

  6. Pre-post change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment within individuals in active TMS group - Cognitive scale

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a brief cognitive screening measure that has been validated for use among individuals with Alzheimer's disease. The total score for this test is 30 points, but one point will be added for individuals with ≤ 12 years of education. The cutoff point for normal cognition is 26/30 in the general population and in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. This will be conducted by clinical staff and gathered as part of the chart review. Range: [0-30]. Higher score indicates higher cognitive health.

  7. Pre-post change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment within individuals in active TMS group - Mood

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The Geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) short form is a screening measure for depression in older patients. Range [0-15]. A higher score indicates more depressive symptoms.

  8. Pre-post change between baseline and 1 week post-treatment within individuals in active TMS group - Motor

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post-treatment

    The United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is the most widely used clinical rating scale for Parkinson's disease. Only part III of the rating scale is used, which is a clinician-scored monitored motor evaluation, allowing ratings from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (severe symptoms) for each Parkinson's motor symptom. The Movement Disorders Society (MDS) commissioned a revision of the scale, resulting in a new version, termed the MDS sponsored UPDRS revision (MDS-UPDRS). In this study, the MDS-UDPRS version will be used. Range [7-86]. A higher score indicates more severe motor symptoms.

  9. Responder Rate

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week post treatment

    Percentage of participants that respond to treatment based on improvement in symptom specific scales. Higher percentage indicates more successful treatment

Other outcomes

  1. Explore the effect of TMS treatment on functional connectivity with Left 8 Av. - Change

    Time frame: baseline, 1-week post treatment

    Average change between baseline and 1-week post-treatment will be compared between groups (TMS vs Sham) in anomaly burden.

  2. Explore the effect of TMS treatment on functional connectivity with Left 8 Av. - Names and number of anomalous parcellations

    Time frame: baseline, 1-week post treatment

    Names and number of anomalous parcellations identified using connectivity analysis at baseline and 1-week post treatment will be described for each participant and tabulated for each arm.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

HealthPartners Institute

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Parcel-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 31, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 22, 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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.