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To Investigate the Change of Brain and Autonomic Function From Different Protocols of Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Patients With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder

NCT07327385 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 50

Last updated 2026-02-17

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study aims to investigate the immediate neurophysiological and autonomic effects of two noninvasive brain stimulation protocols-prolonged intermittent theta-burst stimulation (prolonged iTBS) and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS)-in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comorbid with major depressive disorder (MDD). Using a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover design, changes in prefrontal cortical activity measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and autonomic nervous system function measured by heart rate variability (HRV) will be assessed before and immediately after a single stimulation session.

Conditions

  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

DEVICE

High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (HF-rTMS)

High-frequency rTMS is delivered using a Magstim Rapid2 stimulator with a figure-eight coil targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), localized with the Beam F4 method. Stimulation follows the DASH protocol at 120% of motor threshold and 10 Hz frequency, with 4-second stimulation trains (40 pulses per train) followed by an 11-second inter-train interval, for a total of 75 trains. The single-session duration is approximately 18.75 minutes, delivering 3,000 pulses.

DEVICE

Prolonged Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (prolonged iTBS)

Prolonged intermittent theta-burst stimulation is delivered using a Magstim Rapid2 stimulator with a figure-eight coil targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), localized with the Beam F4 method. Stimulation is administered at 80% of individual motor threshold using an intermittent theta-burst pattern (2 seconds on, 8 seconds off), consisting of 3-pulse bursts at 50 Hz repeated at 5 Hz. A single session lasts approximately 9.5 minutes and delivers a total of 1,800 pulses.

DEVICE

Sham Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Sham stimulation is delivered using a placebo coil identical in appearance and acoustic output to the active coil but without producing a magnetic field sufficient to induce cortical stimulation. Sham sessions match the corresponding active stimulation protocol in duration and procedure to maintain blinding.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Tri-Service General Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Tien-Yu Chen, PhD, MD · Tri-Service General Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-09
Primary Completion
2028-12-31
Completion
2028-12-31

Countries

  • Taiwan

Study Locations

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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 NCT07327385 on ClinicalTrials.gov