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taVNS or TMS or Both for Depression

NCT05725239 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 24

Last updated 2025-08-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The purpose of the research is to test out a combined treatment for depression where the investigators stimulate a nerve in the ear while at the same time stimulate the brain with magnets. These treatments are called transcutaneous (through the skin) auricular (ear) vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and transcranial (through the skull) magnetic stimulation (TMS). For participants who already have a cervical VNS device, the investigators will not change their treatment and will use this in place of the taVNS. The investigators think this combined method might treat depressive symptoms better than either alone. This study is in person at the Institute of Psychiatry in downtown Charleston on the MUSC campus. First, participants will have a screening session and then will have 6 treatment days total where participants will receive either VNS treatment alone, TMS treatment alone, or both at the same time. The treatment that participants start with will be randomized, and they will have 2 treatment days of each combination.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

All taVNS sessions will use the following parameters: 25Hz, 500us pulse width, on for 7 seconds, off for 12 seconds.The length of VNS treatment sessions will be identical to TMS treatment sessions and will have the same 30 minute break between each treatment session. These treatments (active or sham) will be administered to participants each treatment day, for a total of 6 different treatment days, but only 4 are active.

DEVICE

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Participants will receive 20 trains of 30 pulses each for a total of 600 pulses per session. We will repeat this for 6 sessions each day, with at least 30 minutes between each session. These treatments (active or sham) will be administered to participants each treatment day, for a total of 6 different treatment days, but only 4 are active, so participants will get 24 TMS sessions over the course.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Medical University of South Carolina

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Mark George, MD · Medical University of South Carolina

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-03-14
Primary Completion
2026-06-01
Completion
2026-07-01
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

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 NCT05725239 on ClinicalTrials.gov