Major Depressive DisorderNCT03642522
Investigating Predictors of Treatment Response in Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) With Interleaved TMS/fMRI
A study testing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in people with Major Depressive Disorder and Depression, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The purpose of this trial is identify biomarkers of response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in individuals with first episode or treatment resistant depression. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Major Depressive Disorder, Depression
- What is being tested?
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2018to 1 Aug 2020
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
TRD Patient Inclusion Criteria:
Patients will be included if they:
- are outpatients
- are voluntary and competent to consent to treatment
- have a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) confirmed diagnosis of MDD, single or recurrent
- are between the ages of 18 and 80 years
- have failed to achieve a clinical response to at least one adequate dose of an antidepressant based on an Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF) score of score ≥ 3 in the current episode OR have been unable to tolerate at least 2 separate trials of antidepressants of inadequate dose and duration (ATHF 1 or 2)
- have a score ≥ 22 on the IDS item
- have had no increase or initiation of any psychotropic medication in the 4 weeks prior to initiation of rTMS
- able to adhere to the treatment schedule
- pass the TMS adult safety screening (TASS) questionnaire
First Episode Depression Inclusion Criteria:
Patients will be included if they:
- are outpatients
- are voluntary and competent to consent to treatment
- have a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) confirmed diagnosis of MDD, single or recurrent
- are between the ages of 18 and 80 years
- have never received and adequate antidepressant trial and are not currently taking any antidepressant.
- have a score ≥ 12 on the IDS item
- are on no psychotropic medication for the 4 weeks prior to initiation of rTMS, with the exception of lorazepam up to 2mg or equivalent dose of benzodiazepine or prescribed sleeping aids including (zopiclone up to 15mg/d, zolpidem up to 10mg/d).
- able to adhere to the treatment schedule
- pass the TMS adult safety screening (TASS) questionnaire
Patient Exclusion Criteria:
Patients are excluded if they:
- have a history of substance dependence or abuse within the last 3 months
- have a concomitant major unstable medical illness, cardiac pacemaker or implanted medication pump
- have active suicidal intent
- are pregnant
- have a lifetime Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or current psychotic symptoms
- have a MINI diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (current or within the last year), anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder), or dysthymia, assessed by a study investigator to be primary and causing greater impairment than MDD
- have a diagnosis of any personality disorder, and assessed by a study investigator to be primary and causing greater impairment than MDD
- have failed a course of ECT in the current episode or previous episode
- have received rTMS for any previous indication due to the potential compromise of expectancy effects
- have any significant neurological disorder or insult including, but not limited to: any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure, space occupying brain lesion, any history of seizure except those therapeutically induced by ECT, cerebral aneurysm, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosis, significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for greater than 5 minutes
- have an intracranial implant (e.g., aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object within or near the head, excluding the mouth, that cannot be safely removed
- If participating in psychotherapy, must have been in stable treatment for at least 3 months prior to entry into the study, with no anticipation of change in the frequency of therapeutic sessions, or the therapeutic focus over the duration of the study
- have a clinically significant laboratory abnormality, in the opinion of the one of the principal investigators
- are currently (or in the last 4 weeks) taking lorazepam greater than 2 mg daily (or equivalent) or any dose of an anticonvulsant, due to the potential to limit rTMS efficacy
- have a non-correctable clinically significant sensory impairment (i.e., cannot hear well enough to cooperate with interview).
- have failed more than 5 adequate trials of medication in the current episode.
- Exclusion criteria for MRI: Those with a history of cranial, thoracic or abdominal surgery, with pacemakers, artificial joins or other metallic implants will be excluded from the MRI scan. Subjects that have agreed to participate in the MRI portion of the study will be pre- screened for any potential metal fragments in the body (particularly in the orbits) if they have had any history of doing metal work or have been involved in use/deployment of ammunitions/explosives, welding, piping etc.). In these cases a CT scan will be performed prior to the MRI scan ----------
Healthy Control Inclusion Criteria
Participants will be included if they:
- are voluntary and competent to consent to the study
- are between the ages of 18 and 80
- are fluent in English, sufficient to complete interviews and cognitive testing
- have no history of Axis I or Axis II disorders, as determined by the MINI
- pass the TMS adult safety screening (TASS) questionnaire
Healthy Control Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will be excluded if they:
- have a lifetime Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or current psychotic symptoms
- have a MINI diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (current or within the last year), anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder), dysthymia or any personality disorder
- have history of bipolar disorder or psychosis in first degree relative (parents, siblings, offspring)
- are unable to provide family history of biological family (i.e., adopted persons are not eligible)
- have a history of substance dependence within the last 3 months
- have a concomitant major unstable medical illness
- have any significant neurological disorder or insult including, but not limited to: any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure, space occupying brain lesion, cerebral aneurysm, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosis, significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for greater than or equal to 5 minutes
- have a non-correctable clinically significant sensory impairment (i.e., cannot hear well enough to cooperate with interview).
- have a personal or family history of seizures
- Exclusion criteria for MRI: Those with a history of cranial, thoracic or abdominal surgery, with pacemakers, artificial joins or other metallic implants will be excluded from the MRI scan. Those who are pregnant will also be excluded from the MRI scan. Subjects that have agreed to participate in the MRI portion of the study will be pre-screened for any potential metal fragments in the body (particularly in the orbits) if they have had any history of doing metal work or have been involved in use/deployment of ammunitions/explosives, welding, piping etc.)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Canada1 site
Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies lab, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T2A1
About this study
The purpose of this trial is identify biomarkers of response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in individuals with first episode or treatment resistant depression. These biomarkers include simultaneous TMS-fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), a blood smear, cognitive and behavioural assessments, questionnaires, and neurophysiology.
Read the detailed description
This study is enrolling 60 individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
All patients will receive four weeks of 1-Hz rTMS to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R_DLPFC). In addition, all patients will undergo baseline and post-treatment measures, including rTMS while they are in the MRI scanner, neurophysiology (Electroencephalography (EEG)/Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)), cognitive testing, behavioural assessments and a blood smear. There will also be a 1-week, 4-week, and 12-week follow-up following completion of the treatment course.
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Depression
- Being tested
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Keywords
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS, neurostimulation, biomarker, treatment-resistant
- Medical subject headings
- Depressive Disorder, Major, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationDevice
Also called rTMS
rTMS is a Health-Canada- and FDA-approved treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), using focused magnetic field pulses to stimulate brain regions involved in emotion regulation, safely and non-invasively. rTMS can be applied at varying discharge frequencies which have differential effects on cortical excitability. At a low frequency (≤ 1Hz), rTMS reduces cortical excitability, while at frequencies greater than 1 Hz, rTMS facilitates cortical excitability3. In MDD, either high- frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or low- frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS) applied over the right DLPFC have similar efficacy. This study utilizes low frequency rTMS to the right DLPFC.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Hz rTMS | Experimental | 30 minutes of 1 Hz rTMS to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R_DLPFC) Receives: Device: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-30)
The inventory of depressive symptomatology is a clinician-rated depression scale. Outcome will be total score. Minimum score is 0 and maximum score is 84. Higher scores indicate worse severity.
Measured: 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR)
The quick inventory of depressive symptomatology is self-rated depression scale. Outcome will be total score. Minimum score is 0 and maximum score is 27. Higher scores indicate worse severity.
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Aug 2018
- Study start1 Nov 2018
- Primary completion30 Mar 2020
- Study completion1 Aug 2020
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Major Depressive DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Victoria
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, University of British Columbia
- Investigators
- Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, MD, Principal investigator, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03642522
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H14-02819
- Status last verified
- Jan 2021
- First submitted
- 9 Aug 2018
- Last updated
- 12 Jan 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Gregory EC, Carroll B, Kim J, Hasan H, Sun W, Kasper L, Ge R, Gorges M, Butterfield M, Vila-Rodriguez F. Acute neuromodulatory effects of 1 Hz rTMS on the central autonomic network in depression: A concurrent TMS-fMRI study. J Affect Disord. 2026 Jul 16;414:122268. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122268. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42462929Ge R, Humaira A, Gregory E, Alamian G, MacMillan EL, Barlow L, Todd R, Nestor S, Frangou S, Vila-Rodriguez F. Predictive Value of Acute Neuroplastic Response to rTMS in Treatment Outcome in Depression: A Concurrent TMS-fMRI Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2022 Jul;179(7):500-508. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.21050541. Epub 2022 May 18.
PubMed 35582784
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Jan 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigating Predictors of Treatment Response in Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) With Interleaved TMS/fMRI
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03642522
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H14-02819
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Depression
- Keywords
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS, neurostimulation, biomarker, treatment-resistant
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Victoria
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Aug 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Aug 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this trial is identify biomarkers of response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in individuals with first episode or treatment resistant depression. These biomarkers include simultaneous TMS-fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), a blood smear, cognitive and behavioural assessments, questionnaires, and neurophysiology.
Detailed description
This study is enrolling 60 individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
All patients will receive four weeks of 1-Hz rTMS to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R_DLPFC). In addition, all patients will undergo baseline and post-treatment measures, including rTMS while they are in the MRI scanner, neurophysiology (Electroencephalography (EEG)/Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)), cognitive testing, behavioural assessments and a blood smear. There will also be a 1-week, 4-week, and 12-week follow-up following completion of the treatment course.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Hz rTMS | Experimental | Device: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation30 minutes of 1 Hz rTMS to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R_DLPFC) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationAlso: rTMSrTMS is a Health-Canada- and FDA-approved treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), using focused magnetic field pulses to stimulate brain regions involved in emotion regulation, safely and non-invasively. rTMS can be applied at varying discharge frequencies which have differential effects on cortical excitability. At a low frequency (≤ 1Hz), rTMS reduces cortical excitability, while at frequencies greater than 1 Hz, rTMS facilitates cortical excitability3. In MDD, either high- frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or low- frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS) applied over the right DLPFC have similar efficacy. This study utilizes low frequency rTMS to the right DLPFC. | Device | 1 Hz rTMS |
Primary outcome
Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-30)
Time frame: 4 weeks
The inventory of depressive symptomatology is a clinician-rated depression scale. Outcome will be total score. Minimum score is 0 and maximum score is 84. Higher scores indicate worse severity.
1 secondary outcome
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR)
Time frame: 4 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Jan 2021.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42462929Gregory EC, Carroll B, Kim J, Hasan H, Sun W, Kasper L, Ge R, Gorges M, Butterfield M, Vila-Rodriguez F. Acute neuromodulatory effects of 1 Hz rTMS on the central autonomic network in depression: A concurrent TMS-fMRI study. J Affect Disord. 2026 Jul 16;414:122268. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122268. Online ahead of print.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 35582784Ge R, Humaira A, Gregory E, Alamian G, MacMillan EL, Barlow L, Todd R, Nestor S, Frangou S, Vila-Rodriguez F. Predictive Value of Acute Neuroplastic Response to rTMS in Treatment Outcome in Depression: A Concurrent TMS-fMRI Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2022 Jul;179(7):500-508. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.21050541. Epub 2022 May 18.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, MD principal investigator
University of British Columbia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in people with Major Depressive Disorder and Depression, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jan 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-30) (time frame: 4 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03642522, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Jan 2021.