Testing iTBS for major depressive disorder
Official title: E-field Guided iTBS for Treatment Resistant Depression
Electrical Field Modeling to Engage Neurophysiological Targets of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in Treatment Resistant Depression (E-Fields iTBS)
Interventions
iTBS
rTMS involves direct stimulation of cortical neurons using externally applied, powerful, focused magnetic field pulses. iTBS is a briefer form of patterned rTMS that has been shown to be effective against MDD, despite a stimulation period of 1-3 min rather than 30-40 min.
Canadian Sites (2)
Poul Hansen Family Centre for Depression, Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for20 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +are outpatients;
- +are voluntary and competent to consentInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more → to treatment;
- +have a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th edition major depressive episode based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
- +are 18yo to 65yo;
- +have a score of ≥18 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17) item at screeningScreeningThe checks done before joining, to see whether a study fits.Read more →
- +have not had a clinical response to an adequate dose of an antidepressant based on an Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF) score of ≥ 3 in the current episode or have been unable to tolerate at least 2 separate trials of antidepressants of inadequate dose and duration (ATHF 1 or 2);
- +are agreeable to keeping their current medication constant during the study
- +are able to adhere to the study and treatment schedules
- +meet TMS and MRI safety criteria
Exclusion
- −have any significant neurological disorder (e.g., space occupying brain lesion, history of stroke, cerebral aneurysm, seizure disorder, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosis) or confirmed diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment
- −have a concomitant unstable medical illness
- −have failed a course of electroconvulsive therapy within the current depressive episode due to the lower likelihood of response to rTMS;
- −present with a medical condition, medication, or laboratory abnormality that could cause a major depressive episode in the opinion of the investigatorPrincipal investigatorThe doctor or researcher responsible for running the study at a site.Read more →
- −have an intracranial implant or any other metal object that cannot be safely removed, precluding safety of TMS or MRI exposure within or near the head, excluding the mouth
- −require benzodiazepine equivalent to lorazepam 2 mg/day or higher or any anticonvulsant due to the potential of these medications to limit the efficacy of rTMS \[45\]
- −have inadequate English fluency to complete clinical assessments.
- −are participating in a new course psychotherapy initiated within the last 3 months or finishing prior to the end of scheduled treatments;
- −have a non-correctable clinically significant sensory impairment (i.e., cannot hear well enough to cooperate with interview).
- −are pregnant or intend to become pregnant during the study
- −have a current MINI diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, concurrent substance use disorder (aside from nicotine) or post-traumatic stress disorder (current or within the last year)
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: iTBS.
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 2 groups in this study.
From the trial registry
Built from this field:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Who the study is looking for
The study lists an age range of 18 years to 65 years.
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.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 110 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around July 2027.
The main measurement is taken over: change from pre-intervention to post-intervention (average of 6 weeks).
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Markers of cortical excitation — measured over change from pre-intervention to post-intervention (average of 6 weeks).
Depression scores — measured over changes from baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more → to Week 4 follow-upFollow-upContinued check-ins after the treatment part is finished.Read more →.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT05583747 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 iTBSDevice
rTMS involves direct stimulation of cortical neurons using externally applied, powerful, focused magnetic field pulses. iTBS is a briefer form of patterned rTMS that has been shown to be effective against MDD, despite a stimulation period of 1-3 min rather than 30-40 min.
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: an age range of 18 years to 65 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.maximumAge
- 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 an age range of 18 years to 65 years.
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.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: change from pre-intervention to post-intervention (average of 6 weeks).
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2027-07-31.
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 110 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists one location: Toronto, 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
The purpose of this study is to establish how personalization of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can change markers of brain activity and improve treatment response. To do this, all participants will receive the same active form of treatments, but some of the participants in this study will receive intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) rTMS treatment with standard forms of targeting and intensity, and others will receive iTBS rTMS treatment using personalized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electric field (E-field) modeling measures.
Worth passing on?
Save it to the Care Package and send it to them, or to their doctor, in one message. Whether they follow it up is theirs to decide.
Review the Care PackageThis 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.