Amygdala-Targeted Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial of Clinical Efficacy and Neurobiological Mechanisms

September 14, 2026 updated by: Jingjing Huang, MD, Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Tongji University

Amygdala-targeted Temporal Interference Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder。

This randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amygdala-targeted transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and to explore its potential neurobiological mechanisms.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Whether active amygdala-targeted tTIS reduces depressive symptoms compared with sham stimulation.

Whether tTIS produces changes in amygdala-related neural activity and functional brain networks that are associated with clinical improvement.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active tTIS or sham stimulation. They will complete a course of stimulation sessions and undergo clinical assessments before and after the intervention. Neuroimaging assessments will also be performed to investigate treatment-related changes in the amygdala and associated brain networks.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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.

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.
60

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

  • China
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 201204

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

18 years to 55 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Aged 18 to 55 years, inclusive, with no restriction on sex.
  2. Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), as determined by a study physician.
  3. A 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score ≥17 at screening/baseline.
  4. The antidepressant medication regimen must remain stable from at least 30 days before signing the informed consent form through the study period.
  5. In the judgment of the investigator, the participant or their legally authorized representative is able to understand the purpose and procedures of the study, comply with the study protocol, and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. A history of other psychiatric disorders, neurological disorders, or substance abuse that, in the investigator's judgment, may interfere with the assessment of treatment efficacy.
  2. A history of epilepsy, seizures, or convulsive episodes.
  3. Presence of intracranial metallic foreign bodies or metallic implants in or near the heart.
  4. Presence of organic brain disease, or a history of severe head injury or cranial surgery.
  5. Receipt of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or other physical treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), within the 30 days before enrollment.
  6. An unstable psychiatric condition or significant suicide risk, as assessed by the investigator.
  7. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  8. Current participation in another interventional clinical trial.
  9. Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the participant unsuitable for participation in this study.

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: 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.
Experimental: Active tTIS
Device: Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation

Active transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) will be delivered using two pairs of scalp electrodes. Two high-frequency alternating currents with slightly different carrier frequencies will be applied to generate a low-frequency temporal interference envelope within the targeted amygdala region. Electrode placement and stimulation parameters will be determined according to the study protocol and individualized electric-field modeling when applicable. Participants assigned to the active group will receive 10 stimulation sessions, with each session lasting 30 minutes, according to the predefined treatment schedule.
Sham Comparator: Sham tTIS
Device: Sham Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation

Participants assigned to the sham group will undergo the same electrode placement and treatment procedures as the active stimulation group. Sham stimulation will include brief ramp-up and ramp-down periods to mimic the initial sensory experience of active stimulation, without delivering continuous therapeutic stimulation during the remainder of the session.

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 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline; after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2)

The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) is a clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. The primary outcome is the change in HAMD-17 total score from baseline to the end of the 10-session intervention.
Baseline; after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2)

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
Change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. Changes in MADRS total score from baseline will be assessed following treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) Total Score Across Treatment and Follow-up
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) is a clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety severity. Changes in HAMA total score from baseline will be assessed following treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is used to assess anhedonia and reduced capacity to experience pleasure. Changes in SHAPS score from baseline will be used to evaluate treatment-related changes in hedonic functioning.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Global Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-reported measure of sleep quality and sleep disturbances. The global score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Changes in PSQI global score from baseline will be assessed following treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) Domain Scores
Time Frame: Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The WHOQOL-BREF is a self-reported measure of quality of life across physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental domains. Higher domain scores indicate better perceived quality of life. Changes in domain scores from baseline will be assessed after treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a self-reported measure of anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptom severity. Changes in GAD-7 score from baseline will be assessed following treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a 9-item self-reported measure used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. Changes in PHQ-9 total score from baseline will be assessed following treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 1 week and 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Cognitive Performance Assessed by the THINC-integrated Tool (THINC-it)
Time Frame: Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The THINC-integrated Tool (THINC-it) is a computerized cognitive assessment designed to evaluate subjective and objective cognitive functioning, including attention, processing speed, working memory, and executive function. Changes in THINC-it performance from baseline will be assessed following treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 5 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 1); after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) is a self-reported measure of anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. Changes in TEPS scores from baseline will be explored to assess treatment-related changes in reward-related emotional experience.
Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Change in Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) Score
Time Frame: Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) assesses habitual use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression as emotion regulation strategies. Changes in ERQ scores from baseline will be explored following treatment and during follow-up.
Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
DTI
Time Frame: Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) will be used to explore treatment-related changes in white matter microstructural measures within neural pathways associated with the amygdala and emotion-regulation networks.
Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
fMRI
Time Frame: Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be used to assess treatment-related changes in functional connectivity involving the amygdala and brain regions associated with emotional processing and regulation. Amygdala-based functional connectivity measures will be compared across study time points.
Baseline,after 10 stimulation sessions (30 minutes per session; end of Week 2); and at 4 weeks after completion of the 10-session intervention.
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Time Frame: From the first stimulation session through the 4-week follow-up
From the first stimulation session through the 4-week follow-up

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.
Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Tongji University

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 (Estimated)

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.
October 20, 2026

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 30, 2027

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 30, 2027

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).
September 3, 2026

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.
September 14, 2026

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.
September 21, 2026

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.
September 21, 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.
September 14, 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.
September 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.
  • PDJW_2026_MDD

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.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings