Response Predictors of Theta-burst Stimulation for Depression (TBS)

University of Sao Paulo

Status

Completed

Conditions

Depression

Treatments

Other: Theta burst stimulation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04969549

NAFR12\1010 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

43768721.4.0000.0068

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study consists of an open label trial designed to treat adult depression with TBS. Our aim is to build capacity in neuroimaging analyses by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments at baseline and after 7-10 days of treatment onset in 70 patients. The scientific goal is to test a hypothesis about treatment action: that TBS will reduce negative bias (which causally maintains negative mood) after 1 week of treatment, and patients who show this neurocognitive change will be the ones who go on to respond clinically after 6 weeks.

Full description

Depressive disorders are among the leading causes of incapacity and disability worldwide. The burden of depression is expected to increase and is associated with negative impact on clinical conditions and physical and cognitive abilities. Given the limited efficacy of antidepressant drugs, novel treatments such as theta-burst brain stimulation (TBS), a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are being developed. However, to further advance the field towards treatment personalisation, increasing understanding of TBS antidepressant mechanisms and identifying treatment responders are important issues. Moreover, no studies have used neuroimaging in TBS trials in depression yet. Our group in Brazil is a leading brain stimulation centre, although neuroimaging expertise is lacking. We will conduct an open label trial designed to treat adult depression with TBS. Our aim is to build capacity in neuroimaging analyses by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments at baseline and after 7-10 days of treatment onset in 70 patients. The scientific goal is to test a hypothesis about treatment action: that TBS will reduce negative bias (which causally maintains negative mood) after 1 week of treatment, and patients who show this neurocognitive change will be the ones who go on to respond clinically after 6 weeks. Scientifically, this proposal and its outcomes will help advance towards next-generation precision brain stimulation, by incorporating cognitive/neuroimaging readouts that inform about mechanism and individual response.

Enrollment

52 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria: participants aged from 18 to 65 years, with HDRS score ≥ 14, with MDD confirmed by MINI structured interview.

Exclusion Criteria: other mental disorders (alcohol or other substance dependence, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders or dementia), severe clinical or neurological disorders, suicidal ideation, presence of psychotic symptoms, severe depression characterized by HDRS score > 28, manic symptoms characterized by score > 8 in the Young Mania Rating Scale. In addition, patients with specific contraindications to magnetic stimulation or magnetic resonance imaging will be excluded, such as having any metallic implants, epilepsy or any electronic component in the head.