Neural Predictors and Longitudinal Neural Correlates of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treating Major Depression

May 26, 2015 updated by: MARCELO T. BERLIM, Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Neural Predictors and Longitudinal Neural Correlates of Clinical Improvement After Standard or Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Major Depression: A Randomized Study

Standard high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-TMS) is a noninvasive method to activate or de-activate neurons in superficial regions of the brain through the induction of weak electric currents in the brain tissue produced by rapidly changing magnetic fields. Studies have generally shown standard HF-TMS to be effective in treating major depressive disorder (MDD), although treatment effects are often highly variable and there are several negative trials in the specialized literature. One reason for these discrepant results might be that standard HF-TMS only enables direct stimulation of superficial brain areas and, consequently, it is possible that the stimulation of deeper and more widespread brain regions could produce superior and more reliable results. Recently, a novel form of HF-rTMS (called deep transcranial magnetic stimulation or DTMS), that allows direct stimulation of much larger and deeper brain regions, has also been shown to be effective and safe in treating MDD. Neuroimaging studies have shown that standard HF-rTMS directly affects several superficial areas of the brain, but to date there is no data on the brain effects of DTMS. Thus, this study aims to explore, for the first time, the brain effects of DTMS in MDD. More specifically, we, the investigators, hope to identify possible neural predictors of clinical improvement after DTMS and also clarify the impact of DTMS in the brain activity over time. In this study, DTMS will be applied over the left side of the front of the head (a region known as the 'prefrontal cortex'), and will be compared with standard HF-TMS in terms of its effectiveness and brain effects. For this, subjects with at least moderate MDD will be randomized to receive daily DTMS or standard HF-rTMS treatment for 4 weeks, and will undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment. fMRI is a neuroimaging technique that allows us to measure which areas of the brain are more or less 'active' in response to specific stimuli at a particular time. During the fMRI sessions, we will use a validated cognitive task on working memory. Our results could eventually lead us, among other things, to identify which depressed patients would be best candidates for receiving either standard HF-rTMS or DTMS, and which areas of the brain should be targeted by these neuromodulation techniques.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
10

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Quebec
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4H1R3
        • Neuromodulation Research Clinic, Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

25 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of a current major depressive disorder (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revision [DSM-IV-TR]) that has not improved after ≥ 1 but ≤ 3 adequate antidepressant trial(s) in the current episode
  • Baseline score ≥ 21 on the HAM-D21
  • Stable medication regimen (> 4 weeks)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Psychotic features in the current episode
  • Lifetime history of psychotic disorders and/or bipolar I or II disorders
  • Substance or alcohol abuse/dependence in the past 6 months
  • Lifetime history of a major neurological disease (e.g., Parkinson's, stroke)
  • Uncontrolled medical disease (e.g., cardiovascular, renal)
  • Pregnancy and/or lactation
  • Presence of a specific contraindication for DTMS/rTMS/MRI (e.g., personal history of epilepsy, metallic head implant, cardiac pacemaker)
  • Personal history of abnormal brain MRI findings

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Device: Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
DTMS will be administered according to the following parameters: 18 Hz in 84 trains of 2 seconds duration, with 20 seconds inter-train interval (3,024 pulses per session) at 120% of the resting motor threshold
Active Comparator: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Device: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
rTMS will be administered according to the following parameters: 18 Hz in 84 trains of 2 seconds duration, with 20 seconds inter-train interval (3,024 pulses per session) at 120% of the resting motor threshold.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D21)
Time Frame: week 5
Pre-post neuromodulation changes on HAM-D21 scores
week 5

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D21)
Time Frame: week 5
Response to treatment is defined as a ≥ 50% reduction in the scores of the HAM-D21. Remission is defined as a HAM-D21 score ≤ 8.
week 5
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self-Report (QIDS-SR)
Time Frame: week 5
Response is defined as a ≥ 50% reduction in the scores of the QIDS-SR. Remission is defined as a QIDS-SR score ≤ 5.
week 5

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Brainsway

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Marcelo T. Berlim, MD, MSc, McGill University & Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 2, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 3, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 4, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 28, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 26, 2015

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • DTMS-ERB11/28-2011

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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