MST for Parkinson's Disease

(MST-PD Trial)

Overseen By Michelle Avina, BSc

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Must be taking: Psychotropic medications

Must not be taking: Benzodiazepines, Anticonvulsants

Disqualifiers: Neurocognitive disorder, Active psychosis, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 16

Duration: 8 weeks

20 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) for treating depression in patients with Parkinson's Disease. MST uses magnetic pulses to induce controlled seizures, which can help improve mood. The trial aims to see if MST is feasible and safe for these patients. MST is a new treatment that uses magnetic fields to induce therapeutic seizures and has shown promise as an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with potentially fewer cognitive side effects.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not require you to stop your current medications. If you are on antidepressant medication, you should keep your treatment constant during the study.

How does the MagPro XP MST treatment differ from other treatments for Parkinson's disease?

MagPro XP MST is unique because it uses magnetic stimulation, which is a non-invasive method that may help improve motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease by enhancing brain activity, unlike traditional drug therapies that primarily focus on increasing dopamine levels. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people over 50 with Parkinson's Disease who are experiencing depression. They must be able to consent, on stable medication, and fit the criteria for a major depressive episode. They can't join if they have unstable medical conditions, difficulty with English or sensory impairments affecting tests, certain cardiovascular risks, recent psychotropic meds changes, active psychosis, metal implants near the head or high benzodiazepine/anticonvulsant doses.

Inclusion Criteria

You are 50 years of age or older.

Outpatient or inpatient persons capable of providing informed consent

On stable doses of psychotropic medication

Exclusion Criteria

Unstable medical conditions that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, carries significant risk of exacerbation by either of the study interventions

Unable to communicate in English fluently enough to complete the neuropsychological tests

Have a non-correctable clinically significant sensory impairment (i.e., cannot hear or see well enough to complete the neuropsychological tests)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) twice a week for a maximum of 16 treatments

8 weeks

16 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Long-term follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term outcomes and side effects

18 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• MagPro XP MST

Trial Overview The trial is testing Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) as a treatment for depression in Parkinson's patients. Participants will undergo MST sessions while keeping their current antidepressant treatment constant if applicable.

Participant Groups

Group I: Magnetic Seizure Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

MST treatments will be administered using the MagPro XP MST with Cool TwinCoil.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Findings from Research

Deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (drTMS) is safe for patients with various Parkinson Syndromes and can effectively reduce their self-reported motor symptom severity and depression, based on a retrospective analysis of 21 patients.

The treatment showed more significant benefits in older patients with Parkinson's disease, although it did not demonstrate any improvement in cognitive performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of Deep Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (drTMS) against Medical Refractory Symptoms in Parkinson Syndromes: First German Real-World Data with a Specific H5 Coil. Cont, C., Lehto, A., Stute, N., et al.[2022]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abnormalities of central motor conduction in Parkinson's disease. [2019]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Magnetic fields in the therapy of parkinsonism. [2018]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of Deep Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (drTMS) against Medical Refractory Symptoms in Parkinson Syndromes: First German Real-World Data with a Specific H5 Coil. [2022]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Uncertainties in the pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's disease and how to solve them. [2017]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reversal of micrographia in Parkinson's disease by application of picoTesla range magnetic fields. [2022]