Accelerated Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation for Depressive Symptoms (aTBS)

This study evaluates an accelerated schedule of theta-burst stimulation for depressive symptoms in psychiatric inpatients.

A small pilot study (n=22) will be carried out to demonstrate feasibility, using the FDA-approved stimulation site for depression treatment (L-DLPFC). Participants will be offered stimulation at the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression and Suicide
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation; Device: Anterior Cingulate Cortex Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation

Detailed Description

This study intends to investigate whether modifying stimulation parameters enables typical 6-8 week long rTMS protocols to be compressed to only five days. The influence of this accelerated protocol on the length of patient stay in the hospital will be investigated.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 23
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Palo Alto, California, United States, 94305
      • Stanford Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 18 years old
• Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to screening. Participants will be deemed likely to comply with study protocol and communicate with study personnel about adverse events and other clinically important information.
• Currently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and/or in a current major depressive episode, according to the criteria defined in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)
• Currently an inpatient at Stanford Hospital
• Meet the threshold on the total HAMD17 score of >/=20 at screening/baseline.
• Qualifies and has access to outpatient rTMS treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any structural lesion e.g. structural neurological condition, more subcortical lesions than would be expected for age, stroke effecting stimulated area or connected areas or any other clinically significant abnormality that might affect safety, study participation, or confound interpretation of study results.
• Metal implant in brain (e.g. deep brain stimulation), cardiac pacemaker, or cochlear
• History of epilepsy/ seizures (including history of withdrawal/ provoked seizures)
• Shrapnel or any ferromagnetic item in the head
• Pregnancy
• Autism Spectrum disorder
• Active substance use (<1 week) or intoxication verified by toxicology screen--of cocaine, amphetamines, benzodiazepines
• Any current or past history of any physical condition which in the investigator's opinion might put the subject at risk or interfere with study results interpretation
• Cognitive impairment (including dementia)
• Current severe insomnia (must sleep a minimum of 4 hours the night before stimulation)
• Current mania
• Current unmanageable psychosis
• IQ <70
• Showing symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines
• Parkinsonism or other movement d/o determined by PI to interfere with treatment
• More subcortical lesions than would be expected for age or a stroke effecting stimulated area or connected areas.
• Any other indication the PI feels would comprise data.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; The accelerated theta burst stimulation protocol will be applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC), for 10 sessions per day for up to 5 days.	Device: Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation; Participants will receive iTBS (intermittent theta burst stimulation) to the left DLPFC. Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 80% of resting motor threshold (adjusted for cortical depth). Stimulation will be delivered using the Brainsway TMS system.
Experimental: Anterior Cingulate Cortex; The accelerated theta burst stimulation protocol will be applied to the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), for 10 sessions per day for up to 5 days.	Device: Anterior Cingulate Cortex Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation; Participants will receive iTBS (intermittent theta burst stimulation) to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 80% of resting motor threshold (adjusted for cortical depth). Stimulation will be delivered using the Brainsway TMS system.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Score	A 10-item clinician-administered scale, designed to be particularly sensitive to antidepressant treatment effects in patients with major depression. Severity gradations for the MADRS have been proposed: 9-17 = mild depression, 18-34 = moderate depression, and ≥ 35 = severe depression. Scores range from 0-60 (higher scores are more symptomatic). Response is defined as a 50% reduction or greater in MADRS score compared to baseline. Remission is defined as a MADRS score of <10. Data are presented as a raw score point change.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Scale of Suicidal Ideation (SSI) Score	19-item clinician administered assessment to measure the intensity, pervasiveness, and characteristics of suicidal ideation in adults. Scores range from 0-38. Higher scores indicate more suicidality. Data are presented as a raw score point change.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Six Item (HAMD-6) Score	Clinical assessment measuring depressive symptoms. Scores range from 0-24 with scores >5 indicating clinical levels of depressive symptoms (higher scores are more symptomatic). Data are presented as a raw score point change.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)	The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) is one of the most frequently utilized rating scales to assess manic symptoms. The scale has 11 items and is based on the patient's subjective report of his or her clinical condition. There are four items that are graded on a 0 to 8 scale (irritability, speech, thought content, and disruptive/aggressive behavior), while the remaining seven items are graded on a 0 to 4 scale. These four items are given twice the weight of the others to compensate for poor cooperation from severely ill patients. Typical YMRS baseline scores can vary a lot. They depend on the patients' clinical features such as mania (YMRS = 12), depression (YMRS = 3), or euthymia (YMRS = 2). Data are presented as a raw score point change.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)	The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) is a 21-item, self-report rating inventory that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. BDI-II items are rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3 based on severity of each item. The maximum total score is 63. Scores: 0-13= minimal depression, 14-19=mild depression, 20-28=moderate depression, 29-63=severe depression. Data are presented as a raw score point change.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Quick Inventory Depressive Scale-Self Reported (QIDS) Score	Self-report measure of depressive symptoms. The questionnaire consists of 16 questions. Each question can score between 0 to 4 points. Severity of depression is determined as follows: 0=None, 1=Mild, 2=Moderate, 3=Severe, 4=Very Severe. Total scores range from 0-27. Total scores: 0-5= no depression, 6-10= mild depression, 11-15= moderate depression, 16-20= severe depression, 21-27= very severe depression. The total score is obtained by adding the scores for each of the nine symptom domains of the DSM-IV MDD criteria: depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, concentration/decision making, self-outlook, suicidal ideation, energy/fatigability, sleep, weight/appetite change, and psychomotor changes (Rush et al. 2003). Data are presented as a raw score point change.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale-20 Item Version (PIRS-20) Score	Self-report, 20 item scale to determine patient's insomnia level. Each question can be scored between 0-3. 0=not bothered at all slightly bothered moderately bothered severely bothered Total score is calculated by adding up all questions (i.e. Q1+Q2+...Q20). One missing item is allowed, pro-rate if missing one item....i.e. (sum/count)*20. Minimum Score = 0 (good); Maximum Score = 60 (bad). Data are presented as a raw score point change.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Resting-state Recordings and TMS-evoked Potentials in EEG Data.	For the first and last stimulation session, EEG recording will be made before (resting-state EEG) and during (TMS-evoked potentials) the stimulation.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Biomarker Analysis in Patient Blood (Plasma) Samples	Blood (plasma) samples will be collected before and one month after stimulation. Blood collection is conducted by the registered hospital phlebotomist (following same protocol of a routine blood test). Blood samples will be analyzed by our collaborators at the Open Medicine Institute. Specifically, samples will be used for DNA/RNA extraction and analyses will be done to determine potential gene targets. Presence of inflammatory markers (cytokines) will also be determined. All analyses of blood samples will be conducted in the Open Medicine Institute.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Biomarker Analysis in Patient Stool Samples	Stool samples will be collected before and one month after stimulation. Stool collection is performed by registered hospital nurses. Stool samples will be analyzed by our collaborators at the Open Medicine Institute. Specifically, stool samples will be analyzed for potential biomarkers in the gut microbiome. All analyses of stool samples will be conducted in the Open Medicine Institute.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Biomarker Analysis in Patient Saliva Samples	Saliva samples will be collected before and one month after stimulation. Saliva collection is performed by registered study personnel. Saliva samples will be analyzed by our collaborators at the Open Medicine Institute. Specifically, saliva samples will be analyzed for cortisol levels. All analyses of stool samples will be conducted in the Open Medicine Institute.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in th Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-short Form Score	15-item self-report questionnaire where each item is scored from very poor=1 to very good=5. The scoring of the Q-LES-Q-SF involves summing only the first 14 items to yield a raw total score. The last two items are not included in the total score but are stand-alone items. The raw total score ranges from 14 (min) to 70 (max).	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Performance on the NIH Toolbox	Neurocognitive assessments delivered through an iPad app	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Immediate Mood Scaler (Ims-12) Depression Subscale Score	Immediate Mood Scaler (IMS) is a newly developed, iPad-deliverable 12-item self-report tool designed to capture current mood states with overall score, and depression and anxiety subscales. Individual item scores range from 1-7, with a total overall score range from 12-84. Data are presented as a raw score point change in depression subscale score. The depression subscale scores range from 7-49 (higher score indicating worse depression).	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Heart Rate Variability	Measure presence of any change in heart rate variability. Data is reported as a ratio of low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) (LF/HF FFT). FFT: fast Fourier transform.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Alcohol Craving Questionnaire Score (Adapted for All Drug Use)	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of drug abuse this self-report questionnaire will be used to monitor craving of their particular drug of abuse.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Borderline Evaluation Of Severity Over Time (BEST) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of borderline personality disorder this self-report questionnaire will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale Score (Adapted for Use of Any Drug)	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of drug abuse this self-report questionnaire will be used.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Average Weekly Substance Use	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of drug abuse their reported average weekly substance use will be recorded.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of an eating disorder, this self-report questionnaire will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of Anxiety, this self-report scale will be used to monitor anxiety symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Yale Brown Cornell Eating Disorder Scale (YBC-EDS) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of an eating disorder, this clinician-rated assessment will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Hairpulling Scale Score (Edited so Can be Used With Any Impulse Disorder)	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of an impulse disorder, this self-report questionnaire will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (OCI) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of OCD, this self-report questionnaire will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Yalebrown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of OCD, this clinician-rated scale will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Numeric Rating Scale For Pain Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of a pain disorder, this rating scale will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of a panic disorder, this rating scale will be used to monitor symptoms.	Pre-treatment, after each day of stimulation and immediate post-treatmentAfter all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C)	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of PTSD, this self-report questionnaire will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in Calgary Depression Scale For Schizophrenia (CDSS) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of Schizophrenia, this assessment will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)
Change in the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Score	If participants have a co-morbid diagnosis of Schizophrenia, this clinician-rated assessment will be used to monitor symptoms.	After all stimulation sessions have been completed (approximately 48 hours after the final session)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Stanford University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Pascual-Leone A, Rubio B, Pallardo F, Catala MD. Rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in drug-resistant depression. Lancet. 1996 Jul 27;348(9022):233-7. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(96)01219-6.
• George MS, Wassermann EM, Williams WA, Callahan A, Ketter TA, Basser P, Hallett M, Post RM. Daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves mood in depression. Neuroreport. 1995 Oct 2;6(14):1853-6. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199510020-00008.
• George MS, Lisanby SH, Avery D, McDonald WM, Durkalski V, Pavlicova M, Anderson B, Nahas Z, Bulow P, Zarkowski P, Holtzheimer PE 3rd, Schwartz T, Sackeim HA. Daily left prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for major depressive disorder: a sham-controlled randomized trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 May;67(5):507-16. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.46.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): July 26, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 18, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Self-Injurious Behavior; Depression; Suicide
• Other Study ID Numbers: 41071

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