Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Accelerates the Response to Escitalopram in Major Depression

Treatment of Therapy-Resistant Major Depression With Transcranial Stimulation rTMS in Combination With Escitalopram

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00149071

Enrollment

Registered

2005-09-08

Start date

2004-03-31

Completion date

2006-01-31

Last updated

2007-11-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Major Depression

Keywords

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Major depression, treatment resistant major depression

Brief summary

A doubleblind randomised trial with active versus sham rTMS in combination with escitalopram in patients with prior treatment resistant depression in an acute 12 weeks trial with subsequent 24 weeks study phase with active versus placebo citalopram

Detailed description

In this study we aimed at investigating to what degree rTMS applied over the left dorsolateral cortex relieves depressive symptoms when the treament is combined with antidepressive medication. The study will also be able to supply knowledge on how long any possible effect of the rTMS treatment lasts. In the first 12 weeks of the trial participants are randomised to either rTMS combined with escitalopram or sham rTMS combined with escitalopram. rTMS is given daily for the first 3 weeks. The next phase is a relapse prevention study where the responders from the initial phase are randomised to either active or placebo escitalopram for 24 weeks.

Interventions

DEVICErTMS

15 treatments of rTMS active with a duration of 30 minutes each

DEVICETMS

Transcraniel Magnetic Stimulation active and sham

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

FACTORIAL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Major depression Hamilton score above 18 * Age 18 to 75

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnancy og breastfeeding * Mental retardation and organic brain disease * Alcohol and substance abuse * Metal implants in brain, pacemakers and other electronic implants

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
depression scores	6 weeks

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026