Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Anxiety and Depression

(Brain STAND Trial)

Overseen By Adrianna Guiffre, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Calgary

Disqualifiers: Epilepsy, Suicide attempt, Implanted devices, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 5 weeks

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can alleviate anxiety or depression in children and teens. TMS uses magnets to target specific brain areas that influence mood. The study is open-label, so all participants know they are receiving the treatment. Suitable candidates are children and teens diagnosed with anxiety or depression who are currently experiencing symptoms. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance mental health treatments for young people.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

You can continue taking your current medications, but you must have been on the same dose for at least 3 months before joining the study and should not change the dose during the study unless it's necessary for your safety.

What prior data suggests that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is safe for children and youth?

Research shows that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is generally safe for both children and adults. Studies have found that TMS, including a deeper version called Deep TMS, is well-tolerated by teenagers and young adults with depression. For instance, one study noted that TMS is not only safe but also effective in outpatient settings.

A review of several studies also supports the safety of TMS for depressed children and youth, especially when using a specific type called high-frequency repetitive TMS (HF-rTMS). Most patients do not experience serious side effects, and any side effects are usually mild, such as headaches or feeling lightheaded.

While TMS is mainly used for depression, its safety record suggests it might also help with anxiety. Those interested in joining the trial can feel reassured that past research supports TMS as a safe treatment option. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is unique because it offers a non-invasive approach to treating anxiety and depression by using magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Unlike traditional treatments like medication or talk therapy, TMS directly targets specific brain regions associated with mood regulation. Researchers are excited about TMS because it has the potential to provide relief for patients who haven't responded well to standard treatments, and it generally comes with fewer side effects compared to medications.

What evidence suggests that TMS might be an effective treatment for anxiety and depression?

Research has shown that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which participants in this trial will receive, can help treat depression. One study found that people with major depressive disorder (MDD) felt much better after receiving TMS. Another study reported that 54% of patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms. For anxiety, TMS appears promising for treating generalized anxiety disorder, but more research is needed to confirm this. Overall, current studies suggest that TMS has the potential to improve both anxiety and depression. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kara Murias, MD/PhD

Principal Investigator

The University of Calgary

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children and youth who have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression by a qualified medical professional. It's designed to see if TMS, which is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, can help improve their symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression by a doctor.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) treatment for anxiety and depression

5 weeks

Weekly visits for TMS sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• TMS

Trial Overview The intervention being studied is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. The study aims to assess its effectiveness in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression among young participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Open-label study with active TMS for treatment.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Calgary

Lead Sponsor

Trials

827

Recruited

902,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11234753/

Utilization and outcomes of transcranial magnetic ... In this real-world study of a large sample of patients with MDD, TMS patients experienced statistically significant improvements in depression ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10387872/

Efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment ... According to the results of a recent meta-analysis, TMS is effective in generalized anxiety disorder, but this field needs to be supported by more research [27] ...

3. uclahealth.org uclahealth.org/news/release/study-finds-possible-early-predictor-successful-transcranial

Study finds possible early predictor of successful ... The new study published this week in Psychiatry Research found that 54% of patients exhibited clinical response (at least a 50% improvement) in ...

4. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-05545-1

Short-term and long-term efficacy of accelerated transcranial ... Depression scores at follow-up were lower than those directly after the intervention based on the depression rating scale (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI ( ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032720325933

Clinical outcomes in a large registry of patients with major ... Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an effective treatment for episodes of major depressive disorder ( ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016517812500215X

Safety and efficacy of Deep TMS for adolescent depression ... Deep TMS is a safe and effective therapeutic option for adolescents and young adults suffering from MDD when delivered under routine outpatient treatment ...

7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40865772/

Efficacy and safety of transcranial magnetic stimulation in ... Conclusions: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that TMS is safe and effective for depressed children and youths, particularly HF-rTMS. Further ...

8. mayoclinic.org mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625

Transcranial magnetic stimulation Results. If rTMS works for you, your depression symptoms may improve or go away completely. Symptom relief may take a few weeks of treatment.

9. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2835319

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as ... The relapse prevention success rate at 24 weeks in the rTMS monotherapy group was approximately 85%, whereas prior literature indicates that the ...