Individualized (fMRI-guided) TMS Treatment for Depression

Engaging the Subgenual Cingulate With Brain Stimulation for Depression

The purpose of this study is to investigate the responses of the brain region known as the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) during transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in individuals with depression. Specifically, investigators aim to determine whether the sgACC is engaged when TMS is delivered to specific targets and if the engagement of sgACC changes throughout a full TMS treatment intervention. To achieve this goal, the investigators will employ a combination of TMS and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures.

Study participation will include completing various questionnaires, clinical assessments, receiving a full transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment intervention (every weekday for 6 weeks), and undergoing MRI scans, both with and without concurrent TMS.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Depression; Major Depressive Disorder; Persistent Depressive Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Detailed Description

Interested subjects will be asked to complete multiple questionnaires, a clinical interview, and a TMS demonstration to determine eligibility following the informed consent process.

If determined eligible, participants will proceed to undergo an MRI scan to generate their individualized TMS targets.The subsequent visit will involve the first MRI scanning session with concurrent TMS (TMS/fMRI), referred to as Baseline TMS/fMRI, along with the completion of multiple questionnaires.

Following the Baseline TMS/fMRI session, participants will begin the TMS treatment phase. This phase comprises daily sessions (Monday to Friday) for 6 weeks, during which participants will receive rTMS treatments and complete various surveys.

Midway through and upon completion of the TMS treatment intervention, two additional TMS/fMRI sessions will replicate the procedures conducted during the initial Baseline TMS/fMRI.

Remote follow-up assessments at 1, 6, and 12 months post-treatment will evaluate any enduring improvements in clinical symptoms.

Participants will be compensated for completing study procedures.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 54
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • University of Pennsylvania

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

1. 18-65 years old
2. DSM-5 diagnosis of major depressive (at least 90%) or persistent depressive disorder (no more than 10%) as per SCID clinical interview.
3. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score = or > than 10
4. Comprehension of instructions in the English language.
5. Capacity to provide informed consent and follow study procedures.
6. Availability for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Implanted medical devices, metallic implants, or drug infusion pumps that are not MRI-safe (e.g., aneurysm clips, defibrillators, or cochlear implants)
2. History of significant medical events (e.g., stroke, seizures, brain scarring) or neurological/neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., epilepsy) that are contraindications for TMS and MRI or may adversely affect brain function and data interpretation.
3. Current psychosis, mania, or substance use disorder
4. Prior failed response to full rTMS or ECT/MST trial. Any successful prior treatments are acceptable and support a prognosis that a new rTMS treatment would be worth attempting.
5. Inability to complete an MRI scan (e.g., claustrophobia, inability to remain still for extended periods).
6. Inability to tolerate TMS administration
7. Significant handicaps that would interfere with testing procedures
8. Acute systemic infection, high fever
9. Acute sleep deprivation or medication/substance intoxication or withdrawal (TMS seizure risk)
10. Current use of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or others that can cause leukoencephalopathy.
11. Pregnancy
12. Dialysis
13. Suicide attempt in past 6 months (safety precaution)
14. Current use of Bupropion (Wellbutrin) above 300 mg, benzodiazepines, lithium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and/or high doses of stimulant medication is exclusionary. Note: Exclusionary dosages or medications may be reduced or discontinued under the supervision of a medical provider. Participants must provide documentation confirming that their medical provider has agreed to oversee any medication changes, as abrupt changes can lower the seizure threshold and are contraindicated for TMS.
15. Transportation limits or physical limits to attending daily M-F treatment sessions.
16. Per study physician discretion medications likely to interfere with blood flow or otherwise compromise functional imaging measures.
17. Any other factor that in the investigators' judgment may affect patient safety or compliance (e.g. distance greater than 100 miles from procedure site; unlikely to be able to schedule daily treatment sessions, etc.)

In addition, during this study participants will be asked to:

1. Refrain from substance use (including marijuana and illicit drugs) for the duration of the study
2. Abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before study visits.
3. Maintain a consistent level of caffeine consumption throughout the study period and avoid any significant increases.
4. Not initiate, discontinue, or adjust any psychiatric medications or therapy treatments during the study period.
5. Inform the study team of any new medical treatments or prescribed medications (e.g., antibiotics) to allow for safety review and determination of continued eligibility for the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Positive Correlation Target; TMS treatment will be administered using a TMS target positively correlated with the sgACC.	Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS); The TMS intervention will involve two sets of Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) delivered every weekday for 4-6 weeks. Each iTBS set consists of 40 trains and a total of 1200 pulses, delivered approximately 15 minutes apart, resulting in 2400 pulses per session.
Active Comparator: Anticorrelation Target; TMS treatment will be administered using a TMS target anticorrelated with the sgACC.	Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS); The TMS intervention will involve two sets of Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) delivered every weekday for 4-6 weeks. Each iTBS set consists of 40 trains and a total of 1200 pulses, delivered approximately 15 minutes apart, resulting in 2400 pulses per session.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
sgACC Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal change following single-pulse fMRI-guided TMS (TMS On vs TMS Off)	This primary endpoint aims to directly assess sgACC engagement during fMRI-guided TMS by comparing sgACC BOLD signal under TMS On and TMS Off conditions. This sgACC BOLD signal change will be defined as sgACC evoked response henceforth.	Single visit (~2 hours)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in sgACC evoked response Pre/Post TMS treatment with positive and negative sgACC correlated targets	Test the efficacy of positive and negative functionally connected (FC) targets in inducing changes in sgACC evoked response (modulation) before and after TMS treatment.	Up to 7 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 29, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 14, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 8, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): February 20, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 19, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Depression; fMRI; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Brain Stimulation; Brain Imaging; TMS; non-invasive brain stimulation; individualized treatment; TMS treatment; TMS for depression
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Mood Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Behavior; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major; Therapeutics; Magnetic Field Therapy; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 855007; 1R61MH135428 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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