Use Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Somatic Symptom Disorder

March 16, 2026 updated by: National Taiwan University Hospital

Use Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Randomized Double-blind Sham-controlled Crossover Study

This is a randomized double-blind sham-controlled crossover study; the interventions are high-frequency rTMS stimulation on left DLPFC and sham control. The study population is the patient with somatic symptom disorder. The primary outcomes are somatic distress and health anxiety.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
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

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a psychiatric diagnosis featured with somatic distress and health anxiety. It is overlapped with functional disorders. Whether it has effective treatment is a clinically important issue. Current evidence indicates that pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are both helpful for SSD. Among other treatment options, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is attached important in psychiatric field; it can cause activation or inhibition of specific brain regions via magnetic stimulation. Previous studies have disclosed that rTMS is helpful for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-stroke rehabilitation, etc. Regarding functional disorders, fibromyalgia has been found to be benefited from rTMS; the effective approaches include giving high-frequency stimulation on left M1 and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Chronic tinnitus was also found to have response to rTMS. SSD and fibromyalgia are highly overlapped; SSD and depression are often comorbid. Therefore, SSD may also be benefited from left DLPFC high-frequency stimulation. Our previous study revealed that dysfunction of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is associated with persistent interference of the somatic discomforts; stimulation on DLPFC can cause ACC activation. This study program was designed based on the above information. It is a randomized double-blind sham-controlled crossover study; the interventions are high-frequency rTMS stimulation on left DLPFC and sham control. The primary outcomes are somatic distress and health anxiety. There is not study about rTMS on SSD in literature; the investigators expect this study to be able to provide more understanding on this field.

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.
30

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
    • Yunlin
      • Douliu, Yunlin, Taiwan, 640
        • Recruiting
        • National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Wei-Lieh Huang, MD, PhD

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

20 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patient with somatic symptom disorder (confirmed by psychiatrists)
  • Age 20-70

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having psychotic symptoms or cognitive impairment
  • Having potentially lethal illness
  • Using cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators
  • Currently pregnant or having plans to become pregnant within the next three months
  • Received rTMS treatment within three months
  • Cannot read the questionnaires by oneself
  • Having to take the following medications persistently: bupropion >300 mg/day、TCA、clozapine、chlorpromazine、foscarnet、ganciclovir、ritonavir、theophylline

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: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

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: High-frequency rTMS at left DLPFC
Receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation at left DLPFC
Device: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
High-frequency stimulation (10Hz), 120% motor threshold, 40 trains, 1600 pulses
Sham Comparator: High-frequency sham stimulation at left DLPFC
Receive an sham rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation at left DLPFC with the sham coil
Device: Sham stimulation
High-frequency stimulation (10Hz), 120% motor threshold, 40 trains, 1600 pulses (with sham coil)

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
Scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)
Time Frame: Week 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of somatic distress. Score range is 0 to 30; higher score means more severe somatic distress
Week 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Scores of Health Anxiety Questionnaire (HAQ)
Time Frame: Week 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of health anxiety. Score range is 0 to 63; higher score means more severe health anxiety
Week 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)

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
Scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)
Time Frame: Week 1, 2 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of somatic distress. Score range is 0 to 30; higher score means more severe somatic distress
Week 1, 2 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Scores of Health Anxiety Questionnaire (HAQ)
Time Frame: Week 1, 2 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of health anxiety. Score range is 0 to 63; higher score means more severe health anxiety
Week 1, 2 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Scores of Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Time Frame: Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of depression. Score range is 0 to 63; higher score means more severe depression
Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Scores of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Time Frame: Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of anxiety. Score range is 0 to 63; higher score means more severe anxiety
Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Scores of Cognitions About Body and Health Questionnaire (CABAH)
Time Frame: Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of cognitions about health. Score range is 0 to 117; higher score means more severe cognitive distortion about health
Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Heart rate variability
Time Frame: Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of parasympathetic activity
Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Skin conductance
Time Frame: Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)
Measurement of sympathetic activity
Week 1, 2, 3 (comparing with the data in week 0) of the two sections (rTMS and sham)

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.
National Taiwan University 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: Wei-Lieh Huang, MD, PhD, National Taiwan University 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.
August 29, 2022

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.
December 31, 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.
December 31, 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).
December 5, 2021

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.
December 5, 2021

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.
December 17, 2021

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 18, 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 16, 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.
  • 202109065DINC

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

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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