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Effects of Concurrent and Consecutive Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM)

NCT07636694 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 180

Last updated 2026-06-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this study is to learn whether combining repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with a computerized behavioral intervention (imagery cognitive bias modification, CBM-I) reduces negative interpretation bias and mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms. The study will also examine neural changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and whether timing of interventions affects outcomes.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does active TMS reduce negative interpretation bias and depressive symptoms more than sham TMS? Is delivering CBM-I concurrently with TMS more effective than delivering it consecutively (separate sessions) at reducing negative bias and depressive symptoms? Do combined rTMS + CBM-I approaches produce greater neural changes and improved cognitive control over self-referential interpretation than controls? Researchers will compare active TMS versus sham TMS, and concurrent versus consecutive delivery of CBM-I, to test effects on negative bias and depressive symptoms.

Participants will:

Receive either active rTMS or sham TMS targeting the DLPFC Complete imagery CBM-I sessions either concurrently with TMS or in separate (consecutive) sessions Undergo assessments of negative interpretation bias, depressive symptoms, and neural measures before and after the intervention

Conditions

  • Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

DEVICE

TMS

The rTMS group will receive 10 Hz stimulation to the left DLPFC at an intensity of 120% of the resting motor threshold of the right abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle with 4 sec trains and 11 sec intertrain intervals for 3000 pulses.Specifically in our study, we combine both intervention, but applying them concurrently and consecutively between groups.

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Bias Modification

Imagery CBM-I focuses on 2 cognitive aspects, mental imagery and interpretation. Participants will be presented with scenarios in which they have to imagine themselves to be in and practice constructing positive endings or interpretations for them.

DEVICE

Sham TMS

The TMS coil will be rotated 90 degrees, and will not be delivering active stimulation to the participant. The intensity will be set to 30 and the TMS device will be active, generating enough sound effect but no real stimulation for sham control.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The University of Hong Kong

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-02-24
Primary Completion
2028-12-31
Completion
2028-12-31

Countries

  • Hong Kong

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 NCT07636694 on ClinicalTrials.gov