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Neural Mechanisms of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in the Core Depression Network

NCT05224206 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 22

Last updated 2026-05-15

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Repetitive Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic fields to modulate brain activity. A novel form of repetitive TMS (rTMS), intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), has emerged as a promising new treatment for depression. This technique may be advantageous due to its very short duration and potentially stronger effect on brain activity in comparison with standard rTMS. However, the exact effect of iTBS on the activity of the brain in clinical populations remains poorly understood. This project aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms of action of iTBS by comparing its neuronal effect to sham treatment in 22 individuals with a diagnosis of major depressive episode, using positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a double-blind cross-over experiment, followed by a 6-week daily treatment course of iTBS.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Theta burst stimulation

Cool B65 active/placebo coil (left DLPFC) with X100 MagPro rTMS Device (Magventure A/S, Farum, Denmark)

DEVICE

Theta burst stimulation

Cool B70 coil (left DLPFC), with X100 MagPro rTMS Device (Magventure A/S, Farum, Denmark)

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Sara Tremblay, PhD · The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
55 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-04-26
Primary Completion
2027-01-03
Completion
2027-01-03

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05224206 on ClinicalTrials.gov