Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields (PEMF) in Depression

Depression, Unipolar Clinical Trial

— PEMF  

Official title:

Evaluation Plan for Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields (PEMF) in a Cohort Study for Patients With Unipolar Depression, Refractory to Antidepressant Drugs. A DUAG (Danish University Antidepressant Group) Study Over 8 Weeks.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03556735
• Other study ID #: 1-10-72-125-16
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 2016
• Est. completion date: December 2017

Study information

• Verified date: June 2018
• Source: University of Southern Denmark
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields) therapy has been used to stimulate bone repair in non-union since the 1970s. This is an accepted use, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the US. The mode of action of PEMF is based on creating small electrical fields in tissue and thereby promoting healing. Besides it has been shown that PEMF enhance regeneration of nerve fibers exposed to a lesion For treatment of depression the PEMF equipment, which are provided by the company Re5 A/S, consists of a 220 V impulse generator that creates electrical impulses and an applicator which consists of an electrical cable connected to a helmet on which there are 7 electrical coils on the inside. In comparison with the rTMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) equipment, which uses stimuli approaching neuronal firing level, the PEMF fields in human is very much lower.

Description:

Applied to cells PEMF have a stimulatory effect on intracellular tyrosine kinase activity, especially the Src family. The Src family upregulate NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate) subtype of glutamate receptor thereby gating the production of NMDAR-dependent synaptic potentiation that are vital for processes that underlie physiological and pathological plasticity in the brain. Dysregulation of fibroblast growth factor receptors in frontal cortical regions of the brain seem to be associated with depression. The fibroblast growth factors are highly dependent on the activity of the Src family.

For treatment of depression the PEMF equipment, which are provided by the company Re5 A/S, consists of a 220 V impulse generator that creates electrical impulses and an applicator which consists of an electrical cable connected to a helmet on which there are 7 electrical coils on the inside. In comparison with the rTMS equipment, which uses stimuli approaching neuronal firing level, the PEMF fields in human are very much lower.

PEMF treatment involves placing the treatment helmet on the head and connecting it to a power source (220 V), which leads to induction of a pulsating magnetic field. The treatment was given for 30 min once or twice daily for 8 weeks. Participants are awake during these treatments and sit in a chair where they can read or eat. Pilot data demonstrates that the treatment can give mild transient nausea. No other side effects have been observed.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 59
• Est. completion date: December 2017
• Est. primary completion date: November 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Treatment resistant depression is defined as treatment with at least two antidepressants from different classes in an optimal dose and with sufficient duration (at least 8 weeks).

• A score on HamD17 above 17.

• Antidepressant medication must not have been changed 4 weeks before inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria:

A Ham-D17 item 3 at 2 or more (suicidal risk increased) A moderate manic condition (MAS-M above 14) The participant must not be under some sort of restrictions Pregnancy Severe personality disorders Psychotic mental disorders Brain diseases

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Depression
• Depression, Unipolar
• Depressive Disorder

Intervention

Device:
• Treatment with PEMF equipment
Treatment with PEMF in 8 weeks

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry in the Region of Southern Denmark	Odense	Region Of Southern Denmark

Sponsors (7)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Southern Denmark	Aalborg Universitetshospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Odense University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D17)	HamD17 scale	8 weeks
Secondary	Life Quality	WHO-5 scale	8 weeks
Secondary	Side effects	Prise scale	8 weeks
Secondary	Response and remission	HamD17 scale	8 weeks