Deep-brain Magnetic Stimulation (DMS) in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder — DTMS  

Major Depressive Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title: The Effectiveness of Deep-brain Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder：a Preliminary Study

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective alternative for pharmacotherapy in major depressive disorder, but the effectiveness is not clear due to stimulated region, frequency and intensity of magnet field. Standard TMS techniques only can stimulate superficial cortical areas as the electric field decreases rapidly as a function of tissue depth，while depression is also interconnected with deeper neuronal regions. Deep-brain magnetic stimulation (DSM, or deep TMS, DTMS) allows stimulation of deeper cortical regions. Previous research has demonstrated that alpha frequency (8-13 Hz) EEG activity may have particular relevance to the response to antidepressants, and reduction of alpha frequency (8-13 Hz) could lead to negative symptoms. It has been reported that both alpha frequency and low-field magnetic stimulation could improve depressive symptoms.

The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the two different parameters of DMS in the treatment of major depressive disorder. The changes of brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) are also investigated to make a relevant analysis of the improvement of depressive symptoms.

Clinical Trial Description

The study is designed as randomized, double-blinded, active-controlled trial in major depressive disorder.

Patients will be male or female, 18 to 60 years of age, right-handed, outpatient or inpatient status, with diagnosis of major depressive episode (single or recurrent) by DSM-IV. The HAMD-17 total score is no less than 18 at enrollment. The patients should be drug free at least 30 days before entering the trial. The eligible patients are randomized to one of the two treatment groups using a 1:1 ratio for the alpha frequency (high frequency) and 0.5Hz (low frequency) groups.

Throughout the course of the study, DMS sessions are administered by trained physicians for 20 minutes at a time, with 5 sessions per week, during 6 consecutive weeks. Raters who are blinded to the treatment arm perform evaluations. The effective outcome is assessed by the HAMD-17 and HAMA every two weeks including randomization. Serum BDNF level are also tested at each visits (Week 0, 2, 4 and 6). The safety in this study will be assessed by adverse event reporting, clinical laboratory measurements and physical examinations.

Primary efficacy measure will be assessed based on the decrease of HAMD-17 from randomization to endpoint (Week 6). ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Depression
• Depressive Disorder
• Depressive Disorder, Major
• Disease
• Major Depressive Disorder

• NCT number: NCT02184221
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Capital Medical University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 2010
• Completion date: April 2011