e-PAT Neuromod Evaluation of Personalized rTMS for Resistant Depression

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

Status and phase: Withdrawn; Phase 2

Conditions: Treatment-Resistant; Depressive Disorder

Treatments: Procedure: Functional magnetic resonance imaging used to individualize rTMS protocol using robotic coil positioning

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02410421

5055

Details and patient eligibility

About

Although repetitive trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective therapy for resistant depression, it still fail to remit up to 70% of these patients. We hypothesize that personalizing the procedure using functional MRI to better select dysfunctional regions and robotic coil placement to stimulate these regions homogeneously, will increase its efficacy. Individualized rTMS will be compared to traditional rTMS procedure and to trans-cranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

In this small proof of principle study our primary outcome measure will be the correction of the MRI anomalies. Symptoms reduction and the proportion of remitters will be secondary outcome measurements.

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged from 18 to 65 Y
• Affiliated to the health insurance
• Having signed an informed consent
• Suffering from major depression according to the DSM5
• Unresponsive or incomplete remission after at least one trial of antidepressant (> 6 weeks at efficient dose or side effects)
• Treatment stable for > 6 weeks

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindication for MRI, rTMS or tDCS: non-removable ferromagnetic body, prosthesis, pacemaker, medication delivered by an implanted pump clip or vascular stent, heart valve or ventricular shunt, seizure disorders, skin pathology in the region of tDCS electrode placement.
• Pregnancy
• Severe and non-stabilized somatic pathology
• Patients deprived of liberty or hospitalized without their consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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0 participants in 3 patient groups

Individualized rTMS protocol

Experimental group

Description:

The target region will be defined by comparing the rCBF scan of the patient to a control population (n = 80). rCBF will be measured using the QUIPS2 arterial spin labeling sequence on a Siemens 3T Verio. The therapeutic protocol will be design to correct the rCBF anomaly first by defining each point where to deliver the stimulation than the stimulation protocol for each point (180% of active motor threshold, 4-second 10 Hz train duration, with 26-second intertrain interval for a total of 3000 pulses). The whole target will be homogeneously stimulated. The active motor threshold will be assessed. The programmed protocol will be delivered while a figure of eight coil will be positioned by a robotic device (Axilum Robotics). The procedure will be repeated twice a day for 10 days over 2 weeks.

Treatment:

Procedure: Functional magnetic resonance imaging used to individualize rTMS protocol using robotic coil positioning

High frequency rTMS as usual

Active Comparator group

Description:

rTMS will be performed as usual using a figure-eight coil: Defining the active motor threshold. For each session positioning the coil 5 cm ahead of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle, stimulating at 180% of active motor threshold (10 Hz, 4-second train duration, and 26-second intertrain interval) for 37.5 minutes (3000 pulses per session), twice a day for 10 days over 2 weeks. Coil and stimulator will remain the same between individualized and "as usual" proceedures.

Treatment:

Procedure: Functional magnetic resonance imaging used to individualize rTMS protocol using robotic coil positioning

Trans-cranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Active Comparator group

Description:

tDCS will be performed as usual: After controlling for skin healthiness, the anode and the cathode will be respectively placed over F3 and F4. A commercial devices (MagStim), will deliver a constant current of 2 mA through 25 cm2 saline-soaked rubber sponges for 20 min per session. The procedure will be repeated twice a day for 10 days over 2 weeks.

Treatment:

Procedure: Functional magnetic resonance imaging used to individualize rTMS protocol using robotic coil positioning