rTMS + ACT for Chronic Pain and Depression

Overseen By Erica J Martinez, BA

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disease, Bipolar, Psychotic, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 9 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new approach to assist Veterans dealing with both chronic pain and depression. It combines repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), which uses magnets to stimulate brain activity, with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a type of talk therapy focused on accepting feelings and committing to personal values. Researchers aim to determine if this combination can improve daily functioning and quality of life. Veterans who have experienced long-lasting pain (pain most days for at least six months) and depression may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers Veterans a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance treatment options for chronic pain and depression.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it does require no changes to your pain or mood treatment for one month before starting the trial.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) applied to a specific part of the brain positively affects depression. In one study, more than half of the patients with treatment-resistant depression improved after two weeks of rTMS, suggesting that rTMS is generally well-tolerated. Another study found that rTMS and the medication lithium were similarly safe in preventing depression from returning in patients who had not responded to other treatments, further supporting its safety.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been researched for its benefits in managing chronic pain and depression. Reviews of these studies indicate that ACT can improve functioning with pain and reduce symptoms of depression. This evidence suggests that ACT is safe and helpful for those dealing with chronic pain and depression.

Together, these findings suggest that combining rTMS and ACT is likely to be well-tolerated. However, since this trial is in an early stage, it primarily aims to assess the practicality of this combined treatment for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about combining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for chronic pain and depression because it offers a dual approach that targets both psychological and neurological aspects of these conditions. Unlike standard medications that primarily address symptoms, ACT helps patients cope with pain and depression by promoting psychological flexibility and acceptance. Meanwhile, rTMS, particularly when applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), is a non-invasive technique that can modulate brain activity, potentially offering relief without the side effects associated with pharmaceuticals. This blend of therapy and stimulation could offer a holistic and more effective treatment pathway.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for chronic pain and depression?

This trial will compare the effects of two different treatment combinations for chronic pain and depression. One group will receive active repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Research has shown that rTMS can reduce chronic pain and improve symptoms in individuals with chronic pain conditions, particularly when targeting the DLPFC. Additionally, rTMS is known for treating depression, making it a promising option for those with both chronic pain and depression. Combining rTMS with ACT may further enhance these benefits by helping individuals better manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Another group in this trial will receive sham rTMS combined with ACT to compare the effectiveness of the active treatment. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Matthew Herbert, PhD

Principal Investigator

VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for veterans with chronic pain (pain most days for at least 6 months) and major depression. Participants must have a pain intensity >4/10, not be undergoing unstable medical treatments or substance abuse, and cannot have tried rTMS before or had no response to electroconvulsive therapy.

Inclusion Criteria

My pain has been over 4/10 and affects my life and activities.

I have been diagnosed with major depression according to DSM5.

I have been in pain most days for at least 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

I haven't changed my pain or mood treatment in the last month.

I don't have metal implants above the neck, electrical devices like pacemakers, or am not pregnant.

You have had a serious mental health condition like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder at any point in your life.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive DLPFC-rTMS or sham-rTMS combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

9 weeks

Weekly visits for rTMS and ACT sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Trial Overview The study tests combining repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to improve function in veterans suffering from chronic pain and depression. It's a preliminary step towards a larger efficacy trial.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: DLPFC-rTMS + ACT Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Active DLPFC-rTMS with ACT treatment

Group II: Sham-rTMS + ACT Active Control 1 Intervention

Sham delivered rTMS with ACT treatment

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 61 active-duty service members with treatment-resistant depression who underwent at least 20 sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), there was a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms, as indicated by a decrease in average PHQ-9 scores from 15.8 to 12.6 (P < 0.001).

Approximately 69% of participants experienced a reduction in their depressive ratings, with 20% achieving a level of improvement that placed them in the nondysfunctional range, suggesting that rTMS is a promising treatment option for major depression in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Active-Duty Service Members Improves Depressive Symptoms. Roach, AE., Hines, C., Stafford, J., et al.[2022]

High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the primary motor cortex is definitively effective for treating neuropathic pain, while high-frequency rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is effective for depression, based on a comprehensive review of literature up to 2018 involving multiple studies.

Low-frequency rTMS has probable efficacy for various conditions, including improving motor recovery in stroke and quality of life in fibromyalgia, but the overall clinical relevance of rTMS benefits may vary and is not guaranteed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): An update (2014-2018). Lefaucheur, JP., Aleman, A., Baeken, C., et al.[2020]

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive treatment that can provide partial and temporary relief from severe chronic pain, particularly in conditions like neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.

While rTMS effects are generally short-lived, daily sessions over several weeks can lead to longer-lasting pain relief, and for patients who respond but later relapse, surgical options like implanted electrodes may help maintain the benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in pain relief. Lefaucheur, JP.[2022]

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was effective in treating treatment-resistant depression, with a response rate of 50.6% and a remission rate of 24.7% after 6 weeks of treatment in a cohort of 100 patients.

TMS was well tolerated, showing a low discontinuation rate of 3% and no serious adverse events, indicating its safety as an adjunctive treatment for patients who have not responded to other antidepressant therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation in clinical practice post-FDA approval in the United States: results observed with the first 100 consecutive cases of depression at an academic medical center. Connolly, KR., Helmer, A., Cristancho, MA., et al.[2022]

Accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) has been shown to significantly improve depressive symptoms, with a cumulative effect size of 0.39 from randomized control trials and an even higher effect size of 1.27 when including open-label trials.

The review analyzed 18 articles from 11 distinct studies, indicating that while the methodologies were generally acceptable, there is room for improvement in sham techniques and blinding to enhance the reliability of future research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Accelerated TMS for Depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sonmez, AI., Camsari, DD., Nandakumar, AL., et al.[2020]

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is generally safe for older adults with late-life depression, with only 12.4% reporting any adverse events and serious adverse events occurring in just 1.5% of cases, based on a review of 11 studies involving 353 patients.

The most common adverse events were mild, such as headaches (6.9%) and discomfort at the stimulation site (2.7%), although some serious adverse events, including psychiatric hospitalization and increased suicidal ideation, were noted in case reports, highlighting the need for further research to ensure safety in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in older adults with depression, a systematic review of the literature. Overvliet, GM., Jansen, RAC., van Balkom, AJLM., et al.[2021]

High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) shows significant long-term analgesic effects on chronic pain, with improvements noted over mid-term and long-term periods.

HF rTMS also effectively alleviates depressive symptoms in patients suffering from chronic pain, indicating its potential as a dual treatment for both pain and depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of High-Frequency rTMS over the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex .on Chronic Pain and Chronic-Pain-Accompanied Depression. Zhu, Y., Li, D., Zhou, Y., et al.[2023]

High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the primary motor cortex is definitively effective for pain relief, while high-frequency rTMS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is effective for treating depression, based on a review of evidence up to March 2014.

Low-frequency rTMS of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex shows probable efficacy for depression, and high-frequency rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may help with negative symptoms of schizophrenia, indicating that rTMS can be a valuable treatment option for various mental health conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Lefaucheur, JP., André-Obadia, N., Antal, A., et al.[2022]

A study of 77 military patients receiving rTMS treatment showed significant reductions in depression and PTSD symptoms, with over 44% of patients experiencing a notable decrease in depression scores after treatment.

Most patients had previously tried multiple antidepressants (average of 2.7 trials), indicating that rTMS may be an effective alternative for those with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impacts of rTMS on Refractory Depression and Comorbid PTSD Symptoms at a Military Treatment Facility. Wilkes, S., Ona, C., Yang, M., et al.[2021]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 142 patients, daily left prefrontal rTMS showed a significant 37% reduction in procedural pain over 15 sessions, indicating that patients may adapt to the treatment's discomfort over time.

The decrease in pain was specific to those receiving active rTMS and suggests that the stimulation itself may contribute to pain reduction, rather than just patient accommodation, which could be linked to improved clinical outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The painfulness of active, but not sham, transcranial magnetic stimulation decreases rapidly over time: results from the double-blind phase of the OPT-TMS Trial. Borckardt, JJ., Nahas, ZH., Teal, J., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 18 patients with chronic neurogenic pain, non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at 10 Hz significantly reduced pain levels, demonstrating its potential as a treatment for medication-resistant pain.

The study indicates that while 0.5 Hz and sham rTMS did not produce significant pain relief, the 10 Hz stimulation can provide transient pain relief, suggesting a targeted approach to managing chronic pain through cortical stimulation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pain relief induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of precentral cortex. Lefaucheur, JP., Drouot, X., Keravel, Y., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5594801/

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Chronic Pain However, rTMS therapy was significantly more effective than sham treatment in reducing the posttreatment pain scores compared to pretreatment values. To the ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X24001268

Revisiting the effects of rTMS over the dorsolateral ... Thus, DLPFC-rTMS may be able to reduce pain in chronic pain conditions, as is currently supported by several studies including spinal cord injury [7], ...

3. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/painmedicine/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pm/pnaf069/8151554?searchresult=1

Impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation on depressive ... Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a recognized therapy for treatment-resistant depression and has been studied for its potential in ...

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

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as ... This randomized clinical trial of 75 participants with TRD showed that rTMS and lithium had comparable efficacy in preventing TRD relapse.

5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39087968/

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the ... Conclusion: A regimen of 10 sessions of real rTMS of the DLPFC was associated with significant pain relief in patients with PLP, and the effects were sustained ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11092929/

a systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC - PubMed Central The results suggest ACT improved outcomes in patients with FM: there was an overall improvement in all outcomes post-intervention, with most maintained at ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1526590023005394

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: An ... Randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews show that ACT can improve outcomes related to chronic pain (eg, pain-related functioning).

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9543918/

Predictors of outcomes following interdisciplinary acceptance ... Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has been applied to chronic pain, and growing evidence demonstrates its benefit (Hughes et al., 2017; McCracken et al., ...

9. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-025-07067-w

Effects of acceptance and commitment therapy on negative ... ACT appears to significantly improve depressive symptoms, anxiety, and psychological flexibility in individuals with depression.

10. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796723000578

The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for ... The present meta-analysis suggests sufficient evidence for the significant benefits of ACT for people with chronic pain.