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Treatment Resistant DepressionNCT03953417

Pilot Accelerated Theta Burst in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression

A study testing Accelerated intermittent theta-burst treatment in people with Treatment Resistant Depression, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study evaluates an accelerated schedule of theta-burst stimulation using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device for treatment-resistant bipolar depression. In this open-label study, all participants will receive accelerated theta-burst stimulation. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Treatment Resistant Depression
What is being tested?
Accelerated intermittent theta-burst treatment
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
7 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jul 2019to 30 Dec 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male or female, 18 to 80 years of age.
  • Able to provide informed consent.
  • Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and currently experiencing a Major Depressive Episode (MDE).
  • Meet the threshold on the total MADRS score of >/=20 at baseline.
  • In good general health, as ascertained by medical history.
  • If female, a status of non-childbearing potential or use of an acceptable form of birth control.
  • History of rTMS failure with FDA approved rTMS parameters is permitted.

Who cannot join

  • Female of childbearing potential who is not willing to use one of the specified forms of birth control during the study.
  • Female that is pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Female with a positive pregnancy test at participation.
  • Total MADRS score of < 20 at study entry.
  • Current diagnosis of a Substance Use Disorder (Abuse or Dependence, as defined by DSM-IV-TR), with the exception of nicotine dependence.
  • Current diagnosis of Axis I disorders other than Dysthymic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, or Specific Phobia (unless one of these is comorbid and clinically unstable, and/or the focus of the participant's treatment for the past six months or more).
Show all 21Show fewer
  • History of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, or any history of psychotic symptoms in the current or previous depressive episodes.
  • Any Axis I or Axis II Disorder, which at screening is clinically predominant to their bipolar depression or has been predominant to their bipolar depression at any time within six months prior to screening.
  • Considered at significant risk for suicide during the course of the study.
  • Has a clinically significant abnormality on the screening examination that might affect safety, study participation, or confound interpretation of study results.
  • Participation in any clinical trial with an investigational drug or device within the past month or concurrent to study participation.
  • 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.
  • History of positive screening urine test for drugs of abuse at screening: cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates.
  • Current (or chronic) use of opiates.
  • History of epilepsy.
  • History of shrapnel or metal in the head or skull.
  • History of cardiovascular disease or cardiac event.
  • History of OCD.
  • History of autism spectrum disorder.
  • Current psychosis
  • Any change in medication of which the study PI is not aware of.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Stanford University

    Palo Alto, California, 94305

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Pilot Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression

This study evaluates an accelerated schedule of theta-burst stimulation using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device for treatment-resistant bipolar depression. In this open-label study, all participants will receive accelerated theta-burst stimulation.

Read the detailed description

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an established technology as therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The approved method for treatment is 10Hz stimulation for 40 minutes over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC). This methodology has been very successful in real-world situations. The limitations of this approach include the duration of the treatment (approximately 40 minutes per treatment session over 4-6 weeks). Recently, researchers have aggressively pursued modifying the treatment parameters to reduce treatment times with some preliminary success. In a recent study, the investigators applied this accelerated paradigm in individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which showed a significant antidepressant effect (90% remission rate). Additionally, 3 participants from this study carried a bipolar TRD diagnosis and responded at minimum, equally as well, with no adverse events experienced or manic/hypomanic conversion observed during the treatment series. This study intends to further modify the parameters to create a more rapid form of this treatment for bipolar TRD, and look at the change in clinical measures and neuroimaging biomarkers.

Being tested
Accelerated intermittent theta-burst treatment
Keywords
Bipolar Disorder, Treatment Resistant Depression, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Theta Burst
Medical subject headings
Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Bipolar Disorder

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Accelerated intermittent theta-burst treatmentDevice

    All participants will receive accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation to the left DLPFC. Treatment will be targeted by utilizing the Localite neuronavigation system. Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 90% of resting motor threshold adjust to the skull to cortical surface distance.

    Stimulation will be delivered to left DLPFC using the MagPRo stimulator.

Study groups in NCT03953417
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Accelerated intermittent theta burst treatmentExperimentalAll participants will receive accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation.
Receives: Device: Accelerated intermittent theta-burst treatment

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change From Baseline Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)

    A ten item diagnostic questionnaire used to measure the severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders.

    The MADRS consists of ten questions. Each interview question is rated from 0 to 6 with an overall score of 60 or less. Higher scores indicate increasing depressive symptoms. A total score of 0 to 6 indicates the absents of depressive symptoms, 7 to 19 indicates mild depressive symptoms, 30 to 34 indicates moderate depressive symptoms, 35 to 60 indicates severe depressive symptoms.

    Measured: Baseline and immediately post-treatment (6 days post baseline)

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Change From Baseline 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. The overall total score is a maximum of 60.

    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).

    Measured: Baseline and immediate post-treatment (6 days post baseline)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 May 2019
  2. Study start1 Jul 2019
  3. Primary completion30 Dec 2023
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2023

Resources

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
7 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03953417
Sponsor's protocol ID
49486
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
18 Apr 2019
Last updated
4 Feb 2026
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No: clintrials.gov

Publications

  • 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.

    PubMed 20439832
  • 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.

    PubMed 8547583
  • 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.

    PubMed 8684201
  • Chung SW, Hill AT, Rogasch NC, Hoy KE, Fitzgerald PB. Use of theta-burst stimulation in changing excitability of motor cortex: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016 Apr;63:43-64. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.01.008. Epub 2016 Feb 3.

    PubMed 26850210
  • Jelic MB, Milanovic SD, Filipovic SR. Differential effects of facilitatory and inhibitory theta burst stimulation of the primary motor cortex on motor learning. Clin Neurophysiol. 2015 May;126(5):1016-23. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.09.003. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

    PubMed 25281475
  • Chung SW, Hoy KE, Fitzgerald PB. Theta-burst stimulation: a new form of TMS treatment for depression? Depress Anxiety. 2015 Mar;32(3):182-92. doi: 10.1002/da.22335. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

    PubMed 25450537
  • Plewnia C, Pasqualetti P, Grosse S, Schlipf S, Wasserka B, Zwissler B, Fallgatter A. Treatment of major depression with bilateral theta burst stimulation: a randomized controlled pilot trial. J Affect Disord. 2014 Mar;156:219-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.12.025. Epub 2013 Dec 28.

    PubMed 24411682
  • Prasser J, Schecklmann M, Poeppl TB, Frank E, Kreuzer PM, Hajak G, Rupprecht R, Landgrebe M, Langguth B. Bilateral prefrontal rTMS and theta burst TMS as an add-on treatment for depression: a randomized placebo controlled trial. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2015 Jan;16(1):57-65. doi: 10.3109/15622975.2014.964768. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

    PubMed 25430687
  • Daskalakis ZJ. Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression: when less may be more. Brain. 2014 Jul;137(Pt 7):1860-2. doi: 10.1093/brain/awu123. Epub 2014 May 15. No abstract available.

    PubMed 24833712
  • Thut G, Pascual-Leone A. A review of combined TMS-EEG studies to characterize lasting effects of repetitive TMS and assess their usefulness in cognitive and clinical neuroscience. Brain Topogr. 2010 Jan;22(4):219-32. doi: 10.1007/s10548-009-0115-4. Epub 2009 Oct 28.

    PubMed 19862614
  • Holtzheimer PE 3rd, McDonald WM, Mufti M, Kelley ME, Quinn S, Corso G, Epstein CM. Accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. Depress Anxiety. 2010 Oct;27(10):960-3. doi: 10.1002/da.20731.

    PubMed 20734360
  • Fung PK, Robinson PA. Neural field theory of synaptic metaplasticity with applications to theta burst stimulation. J Theor Biol. 2014 Jan 7;340:164-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.09.021. Epub 2013 Sep 21.

    PubMed 24060620
  • Biswal B, Yetkin FZ, Haughton VM, Hyde JS. Functional connectivity in the motor cortex of resting human brain using echo-planar MRI. Magn Reson Med. 1995 Oct;34(4):537-41. doi: 10.1002/mrm.1910340409.

    PubMed 8524021
  • Greicius MD, Krasnow B, Reiss AL, Menon V. Functional connectivity in the resting brain: a network analysis of the default mode hypothesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 7;100(1):253-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0135058100. Epub 2002 Dec 27.

    PubMed 12506194
  • Fox MD, Snyder AZ, Vincent JL, Corbetta M, Van Essen DC, Raichle ME. The human brain is intrinsically organized into dynamic, anticorrelated functional networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jul 5;102(27):9673-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0504136102. Epub 2005 Jun 23.

    PubMed 15976020

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Accelerated intermittent theta-burst treatment in people with Treatment Resistant Depression, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 21 exclusion criteria. 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 4 Feb 2026. 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 United States. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 24 Mar 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Change From Baseline Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (time frame: Baseline and immediately post-treatment (6 days post baseline)). 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 NCT03953417, which also lists 16 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 4 Feb 2026.

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