Low Field Magnetic Stimulation: Imaging Biomarkers in Geriatric Bipolar Depression (LFMSBioMGeri)

March 19, 2026 updated by: David G. Harper, Ph.D., Mclean Hospital
The protocol involves functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging acquisitions immediately before and after Low Field Magnetic Stimulation treatment on two separate days in a sham controlled, randomized trial, in order to assess the physiologic effects of Low Field Magnetic Stimulation on brain function in a geriatric population with bipolar depression.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

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.

Detailed Description

In this study, the investigators will examine changes in brain activity from Low Field Magnetic Stimulation in subjects over the age of 50 with bipolar disorder who are currently depressed using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Following screening visits, study procedures include two visits, at least two weeks apart, during which subjects will complete brief mood scales, undergo up to 15 minutes of imaging, receive 20 minutes of Low Field Magnetic Stimulation treatment, and then return to the scanner to undergo up to 15 minutes of imaging procedures. Due to the crossover design, subjects receiving active treatment during the first visit will receive sham treatment during the second visit; subjects receiving sham treatment during the first visit will receive active treatment during the second visit. A follow-up phone call will occur at least two days after each imaging/treatment visit. The main endpoint of this study is the observation of changes in resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging activity in post-treatment acquisitions as compared to pre-treatment acquisitions.

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 (Estimated)

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.
40

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.
  • Not Applicable

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

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Belmont, Massachusetts, United States, 02478
        • Mclean Hospital

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

50 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects will have a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type I or II, current episode depressed as measure by a MADRS ≥ 20.
  2. Subjects must be maintained on a stable dose of all psychotropic medications for a period of at least two weeks prior to screening.
  3. Subjects must be capable of providing informed consent.
  4. Subjects must permanently reside within a 2-hour drive of McLean Hospital.
  5. Subjects must be currently seen by a provider (psychiatrist, therapist, PCP) whose practice is within a 2-hour drive of McLean Hospital.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Dangerous or active suicidal ideation, as measured by the C-SSRS (see "Safety Measures" section), and physician evaluation.
  2. Subjects meeting DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other psychotic disorders, or dementia.
  3. Current mania as defined by a score of ≥ 10 on the Young Mania Rating Scale at screening.
  4. Subject has an MMSE score ≤ 24.
  5. Subject is pregnant or plans on becoming pregnant.
  6. Subject has recent history (within 7 days of screening) of ECT or TMS treatment.
  7. Subject has recent history of substance abuse (cannot meet DSM-5 criteria for substance abuse, no significant drug abuse within last 3 months, no history of dependence in last year, no drug use within last month, other than marijuana use).
  8. Subject has any contraindication for MRI (i.e. Presence of a pacemaker, neurostimulator, or metal in head or neck).

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

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.
Other: Active first
Subjects receive active Low Field Magnetic Stimulation in the first imaging visit and sham in the second.
Device: Low Field Magnetic Stimulation
Low Field Magnetic Stimulation is an application of a series of electromagnetic pulses to the brain through a small cylinder that the subject places the top of their head inside.
Other: Sham first
Subjects receive sham Low Field Magnetic Stimulation in the first imaging visit and active in the second.
Device: Low Field Magnetic Stimulation
Low Field Magnetic Stimulation is an application of a series of electromagnetic pulses to the brain through a small cylinder that the subject places the top of their head inside.

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
Change in resting state brain activity measured by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Time Frame: Resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging data are acquired 4 times, twice within one hour during imaging visit 1 and twice within one hour during imaging visit 2 which occurs at least two weeks later.
Comparison of change in brain activity occurring over the time of treatment, compared between active and sham treatment visits. This is assessed by combining pre and post treatment measures made during active and sham treatment visits using the following formula: (post active treatment - pre active treatment) - ( post sham - pre sham). The brain activity is measured using blood oxygenation level dependent image of brain activity acquired in the resting state using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging data are acquired 4 times, twice within one hour during imaging visit 1 and twice within one hour during imaging visit 2 which occurs at least two weeks later.

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.
Mclean Hospital

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: David G Harper, PhD, Mclean Hospital

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 (Actual)

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.
May 29, 2018

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
July 21, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
July 21, 2026

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).
February 22, 2018

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.
March 29, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

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.
March 30, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
March 23, 2026

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.
March 19, 2026

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.
March 1, 2026

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.
  • 2017P002783

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

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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