Precision Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression Based on Orbital Frontal Cortex-habenula Circuitry

Launched by XIJING HOSPITAL · Feb 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new approach to treat depression using a method called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). The researchers want to see if targeting specific areas of the brain, particularly the orbital frontal cortex and habenula, can help individuals feel better. They plan to recruit 30 adults aged 18 to 60 who have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and have a certain level of depression as measured by a standard rating scale. Participants will receive either 10 or 20 sessions of this TMS treatment to evaluate how effective and safe it is.

To be eligible for this study, participants must have stable medication or therapy for at least four weeks before starting the trial. However, individuals with certain conditions, such as serious brain injuries or specific neurological disorders, or those with a history of seizures, are not eligible. Participants can expect to undergo TMS, which is a non-invasive procedure where magnetic fields are used to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. This trial is not yet recruiting, so interested individuals will need to wait for more information on how to participate.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Gender is not limited, age 18～60 years old;
• • Comply with the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) of the United States of America;
• • Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) 17-item score ≥ 18;
• • The medication/psychotherapy received by the subject prior to the start of the study remained stable for at least 4 weeks .
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of serious somatic diseases or diseases that may affect the central nervous system (e.g., tumors, syphilis, etc.);
• • Neurological disorders or risk of seizures, such as previous craniosynostosis, head trauma, alcoholism, abnormal electroencephalograms, MRI evidence of structural abnormalities in the brain, or family history of epilepsy;
• • Patients with bipolar disorder and depression due to other psychiatric disorders (e.g., psychoactive and non-dependent substances);
• • Contraindications to MRI scanning or transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, such as metal or electronic devices placed in the body (intracranial metal foreign bodies, cochlear implants, pacemakers and stents and other metal foreign bodies), space phobia;
• • People with psychotic symptoms requiring joint application of antipsychotic drugs;
• • Those with high risk of suicide, or those who have already committed suicide or serious self-injury behavior requiring urgent intervention;
• • Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant during the trial;
• • Other conditions judged by the investigator to be unsuitable as research subjects.