Investigating Functional Changes in the Frontotemporal Cortex of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Following Electroconvulsive Therapy or Magnetic Seizure Therapy Using Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

Summary

Against the clinical backdrop of the growing global burden of neuropsychiatric disorders, the rapid rise in depression prevalence, and the frequent association of these conditions with cognitive impairment, this study highlights the limitations of current cognitive assessment tools-such as their time-consuming nature and lack of specificity-and underscores the urgent need to develop simple and efficient assessment methods. In terms of treatment, modified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and magnetic seizure therapy (MST) are rapidly acting neuromodulation therapies; however, their effects on cognitive function and underlying brain mechanisms remain controversial, and there is a lack of direct comparative studies. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology can non-invasively monitor changes in cerebral hemodynamics, providing a powerful tool for assessing brain function before and after treatment. Therefore, this study aims to combine resting-state and task-based fNIRS with multidimensional cognitive and emotional assessments to systematically compare the effects of ECT and MST on frontal-temporal cerebral hemodynamics. We seek to clarify the differences in brain function regulation between the two treatment modalities and their association with improvements in cognition and mood, with the goal of providing scientific evidence to elucidate the brain mechanisms underlying neurostimulation therapies and optimize individualized treatment plans.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Interventions

OTHER

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy will be administered 2 to 3 times per week according to a standardized protocol. Stimulation parameters-including intensity, target site, number of sessions, and duration-will be individually tailored for each participant based on prior research to ensure targeted and safe delivery within established safety parameters. Treatment will continue until the participant meets the protocol-defined response criteria or completes a maximum of 10 sessions.

OTHER

Magnetic Seizure Therapy

Magnetic seizure therapy will be administered 2 to 3 times per week according to a standardized protocol. Stimulation parameters-including intensity, target location, number of sessions, and duration-will be individually tailored for each participant based on prior research to ensure targeted and safe delivery within established safety parameters. Treatment will continue until the participant meets the protocol-defined response criteria or completes a maximum of 10 sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-30

Primary Completion

2029-04-30

Completion

2029-04-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations