Comparing 3 approaches for major depressive episode
Official title: Comparing Uni- and Bi-lateral TBS in Major Depression
A Naturalistic Study Comparing Uni- and Bi-lateral Theta Burst Stimulation in Major Depression
Interventions
Theta burst stimulation
Cool B70 coil (left DLPFC) and Cool B65 active/placebo coil (right DLPFC), with X100 MagPro rTMS Device (Magventure A/S, Farum, Denmark)
Canadian Sites (1)
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for21 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +voluntary and competent to consentInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more → to study,
- +female or male aged 18 years old or older,
- +can speak and read English and/or French
- +primary and/or predominant diagnosis of major depressive episode without psychotic features in the current depressive episode (confirmed by a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview),
- +depressive symptoms have not improved after ≥ 1 adequate dose of antidepressant trial in the current depressive episode,
- +moderate symptoms in the current depressive episode as indexed by a score of at least 15 at the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17),
- +have been referred to rTMS treatment by their treating physician, and took a free and informed decision to follow this treatment,
- +are able to adhere to treatment schedule,
- +have received a stable psychiatric medication (including prescribed cannabis) or psychotherapy regimen for at least four weeks prior to entering the trial,
- +have an education-adjusted score of ≥ 24 at the Mini-Mental State Evaluation (MMSE) if are aged ≥ 65.
Exclusion
- −current use of illegal substances or recreational cannabis
- −have a concomitant major unstable medical or neurologic illness (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes or renal dysfunction),
- −organic cause to the depressive symptoms (e.g. thyroid dysfunctions), determined by the referring physician
- −acute suicidality or threat to life from self-neglect,
- −have a specific contraindication for TMS (e.g., personal history of epilepsy or seizure, metallic head implant, pacemaker),
- −unwilling to maintain current antidepressant regimen,
- −are taking more than 1 mg of lorazepam or equivalent,
- −any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would adversely affect the participant's ability to complete the study,
- −have failed a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within the current depressive episode due to the lower likelihood of response to rTMS.If they have had failed ECT in the past, this does not exclude them
- −are pregnant or breastfeeding, or thinking of becoming pregnant during course of treatment,
- −current or past (\< 3 months) substance (excluding caffeine or nicotine) or alcohol abuse/dependence, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Based on the DSM-5 criteria, mild cannabis or alcohol use would be permissible in the past 3 months, moderate to severe would be an exclusionExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more →
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a treatment for a condition.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
What is being given or done in this study: Theta burst stimulation.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
- armsInterventionsModule.interventions[].name
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives an existing treatment, so the two can be compared.
There are 3 groups in this study.
From the trial registry
Built from this field:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Who the study is looking for
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 256 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around September 2026.
The main measurement is taken over: Week 6.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Response - Treatment Phase (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 score) — measured over Week 6.
Remission - Treatment Phase (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 Score) — measured over End of treatment phase (week 4 or 6).
Response - Maintenance Phase (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 score) — measured over 6 months.
Remission - Maintenance Phase (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 Score) — measured over 6 months.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT04142996 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About Theta burst stimulationDevice
Cool B70 coil (left DLPFC) and Cool B65 active/placebo coil (right DLPFC), with X100 MagPro rTMS Device (Magventure A/S, Farum, Denmark)
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a device is here: A physical instrument, implant, app or piece of equipment being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: a minimum age of 18 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives an existing treatment so the two can be compared.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: Week 6.
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2026-09.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 256 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists one location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a Health Canada approved treatment for major depression. Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is a very promising new treatment for major depression that allows a 15-fold reduction in duration of daily sessions. However, no large scale naturalistic study has assessed the superiority of bilateral TBS in comparison with unilateral left TBS. In fact, no TBS study thus far has included both unipolar and bipolar depression, or other psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety. Maintenance has yet to be studied with TBS, along with an effective maintenance protocol to prevent relapse. Our study aims to explore and address these gaps.
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See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.