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Recruiting NCT07212465

Accelerated Neuromodulation of Anterior Cingulate Cortex for Depression

No phase Interventional Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Active Brainsway H7-Coil Deep TMS System, Sham Brainsway H1-Coil Deep TMS System.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Basic parameters: 60 years — 85 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Canada
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

Feasibility, Tolerability, and Preliminary Efficacy for Non-Invasive Neuromodulation of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex for Depression (NACC-D) in Older Adults Using Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation With an Accelerated Intermittent Theta Burst Protocol

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether an accelerated deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) protocol can reduce depressive symptoms in older adults (ages 60-85) with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who have not tolerated or responded to antidepressant medications. The study will evaluate whether accelerated dTMS administered over 5 consecutive days is safe and well-tolerated in this population, and whether it produces greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared to placebo stimulation.

Detailed description

This study will investigate the effects of an accelerated intermittent theta burst protocol (a-iTBS) using the H7 deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) coil to target the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in older adults (aged 60-85) with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Twenty-four older adults with treatment-resistant MDD will participate in a single site, double-blind, randomized sham-controlled trial using an accelerated schedule of multiple dTMS sessions per day for 5 consecutive days. The primary goal of the study is to establish the feasibility of an accelerated aiTBS protocol of the ACC in older adults with treatment resistant depression, and to obtain preliminary evidence of treatment efficacy.

Interventions

  • Device Active Brainsway H7-Coil Deep TMS System
    Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) is a new form of TMS which allows direct stimulation of deeper neuronal pathways than the standard TMS. The H-coil is a novel dTMS coil designed to allow deeper brain stimulation without a significant increase of electric fields induced in superficial cortical regions. dTMS will be administered 6-8 times a day for 5 consecutive days.
  • Device Sham Brainsway H1-Coil Deep TMS System
    In addition to the active H7-coil, a sham coil is included in the H1-coil helmet. The sham treatment will be administered 6-8 times a day for 5 consecutive days.

Primary outcome measures

  • Percentage of scheduled treatment sessions that are attended by study participants [Time frame: 6 weeks]
  • Participant-reported comfort and feasibility based on the frequency and type of adverse events as measured using the Adverse Events Questionnaire (AEQ) [Time frame: 6 weeks]
  • The number of participants who have prematurely withdraw and reasons for withdrawal [Time frame: 6 weeks]
  • The change from baseline in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores following the final treatment on day 5 (i.e., after 5 days of H7-coil a-iTBS) in the treatment group compared to the sham group. [Time frame: 1 week]
Secondary outcome measures (8)
  • Response rates compared between treatment groups following 5 days of treatment, where the response rate refers to the percentage of patients who responded to a-ITBS treatment and response is defined as a ≥50% reduction in MADRS score from baseline [Time frame: 6 weeks]
  • Remission rates compared between treatment groups following 5 days of treatment, where the remission rate is defined as MADRS score <10 [Time frame: 6 weeks]
  • The change in baseline slow wave and resting state activity as measured with electroencephalography (EEG) following 5 days of treatment and at 1-month follow-up [Time frame: 6 weeks]
  • The change in functional connectivity within the default mode and central autonomic networks on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) [Time frame: 1 week]
  • The change in slow wave activity in the posterior default mode network (posterior cingulate cortex) as measured with MEG [Time frame: 1 week]
  • The change in baseline cognitive tests following 5 days of treatment and at 1-month follow-up (cognitive domains tested include executive function and memory), [Time frame: 6 weeks]
  • The change in baseline resting state heart rate variability (HRV) following a single TMS session and after 5 days of treatment [Time frame: 1 week]
  • The change in baseline emotional processing as measured with an Affective Simon task following a single TMS session, after 5 days of treatment and at 1-month follow-up [Time frame: 6 weeks]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • are between 60- 85 years old (on the day of randomization)
  • have been diagnosed with DSM5 Major Depressive Disorder, with the current episode longer than 4 weeks but less than 5 years
  • did not respond to/did not tolerate, or failed to achieve remission with at least one antidepressant trial of 8 week minimum duration
  • are willing to provide informed consent
  • are able to follow the treatment schedule
  • are stable on medications for 2 months and are not expected to change medication during the entire study period (if they are taking medications)
  • have a satisfactory safety screening questionnaire for TMS

Exclusion criteria

  • have a metal plate in your head (such as an ear implant, implanted brain stimulators, aneurysm clips). Dental devices and implants that are non-magnetic are safe
  • have known increased pressure or a history of increased pressure in their brain, which may increase their risk for having seizures
  • have a cardiac pacemaker
  • have an implanted medication pump
  • have a central venous line
  • have a history of any psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or dementia
  • have a history of substance abuse in the last 6 months
  • have a history of stroke or other brain lesions
  • have a personal history of epilepsy
  • have a family history of epilepsy
  • are a pregnant or breast-feeding woman
  • have a history of abnormal MRI of the brain
  • have untreated hypo- or hyper-thyroidism
  • have unstable medical condition(s)
  • have any other known contraindications to TMS
  • are on unstable doses of any psychotropic medication such as - antidepressants, antipsychotic, mood stabilizers or memory enhancing medications
  • require daily doses of benzodiazepines or hypnotics within two weeks of randomization

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

Canada · 1 center
  • Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest — Toronto

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07212465 · 25-03

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗