25 Participants Needed

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression

(PATH-RAD Trial)

SR
Overseen BySe Ri (Sally) Bae, MD
Age: Any Age
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of California, Davis
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can help people with depression and suicidal thoughts. TMS, a non-invasive method using magnetic fields to stimulate the brain, occurs over five days. The trial aims to determine if TMS can reduce depression, suicidal thoughts, and hospital visits, while also enhancing daily activities like school or work. Ideal participants are English-speaking individuals aged 15-25 who have recently received treatment for depression-related suicidal thoughts.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the understanding and potential improvement of mental health treatments.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

You may need to stop taking certain medications, like benzodiazepines, if they interfere with the TMS treatment. It's best to discuss your current medications with the study team to see if any changes are needed.

What prior data suggests that transcranial magnetic stimulation is safe for treating depression?

Research has shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is generally safe for treating depression, including in children and young people. A review of multiple studies found TMS both safe and effective for young people with depression.

Another study found TMS equally safe for treating both bipolar and unipolar depression, indicating it is well-tolerated for these conditions. The studies reported no major side effects, suggesting TMS is a safe option for those considering treatment.

Overall, research supports TMS as a safe treatment for depression, provided there is careful monitoring.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is unique because it offers a non-invasive option for treating depression. Unlike traditional treatments such as antidepressant medications, which can take weeks to take effect and might have significant side effects, TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, potentially offering quicker relief with fewer side effects. Researchers are excited about TMS because it targets specific brain areas involved in mood regulation, providing a personalized approach to treatment that can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have not responded well to medications.

What evidence suggests that transcranial magnetic stimulation is effective for depression?

Research has shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the treatment under study in this trial, can greatly improve depression symptoms. In large studies, people with major depression experienced significant improvement, with nearly 70% reporting fewer symptoms. One study found that 82% of patients responded well to TMS, and 65% had their symptoms disappear completely. TMS has also reduced suicidal thoughts. These findings suggest that TMS could be a promising treatment for depression and suicidal thoughts in teenagers and young adults.678910

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adolescents and young adults over 15 years old who have recently been discharged from the emergency department with suicidal thoughts. They must meet criteria for Major Depressive Disorder and be able to give informed consent.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
I speak English.
I can understand and agree to the study's procedures and risks.
See 2 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment over 5 days, guided by MRI brain scans

1 week
5 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in depression, suicidal thoughts, and daily functioning

4 weeks
2 visits (in-person) at 1 week and 4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • TMS

Trial Overview

The study tests a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment called TMS, administered over five days, aimed at reducing depression and suicidal thoughts. It involves MRI-guided targeting of specific brain areas and assesses feasibility, symptom reduction, hospitalization rates, and daily functioning impact.

How Is the Trial Designed?

1

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: TMSExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Davis

Lead Sponsor

Trials
958
Recruited
4,816,000+

Sorensen Foundation

Collaborator

Citations

Utilization and outcomes of transcranial magnetic stimulation ...

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

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 ( ...

The Effectiveness of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in ...

In both groups, TMS resulted in marked improvement in depressive symptom severity, with nearly 70% reporting meaningful improvement. The overall ...

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 ...

TMS Success Rates for Depression: Compare TMS Types

In a randomized sham-controlled trial, 82% of patients responded and 65% achieved remission after 30 sessions of dTMS. Even just 20 sessions led ...

6.

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 ...

Efficacy, effectiveness and safety of transcranial magnetic ...

TMS is efficacious and safe in BDep, with response and remission rates on par with unipolar depression. High and low frequency protocols on left ...

Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in ...

Primary outcome was the symptom score change as assessed at week 4 with the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Secondary outcomes included ...

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 ...

Antidepressant class and concurrent rTMS outcomes in ...

Combining rTMS with SSRIs led to significantly lower depression scores, (SMD [CI] of −0.65 [−0.98, −0.31], p = 0.0002, I2 = 66.1%), higher ...