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An Open Label Trial of TMS Therapy for Bipolar Depression

An Open Label Trial of TMS Therapy for Bipolar Depression

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02640950
Enrollment
31
Registered
2015-12-29
Start date
2015-12-31
Completion date
2020-07-31
Last updated
2022-06-01

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

Conditions

Bipolar Depression

Brief summary

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an increasingly accepted neurostimulation- based treatment for major depressive disorder. While there is a growing anecdotal database supporting its use in bipolar depression the investigators propose to collect open label efficacy and safety data in a small population of patients with clinically verified bipolar disorder.

Detailed description

The investigators propose to screen patients with bipolar depression I or II, who are already on acceptable mood stabilization. They may or may not be on antidepressants at the time of screening but subjects on antidepressants would be taken off them before completing the screening phase. Those patients who have a depression of at least moderate severity without significant symptoms of activation or mania will be started on a course of open label TMS treatment of up to 35 sessions. Safety and efficacy assessments will be done weekly. Patients will complete a course of treatment when they meet remission criteria (MADRS score \< 10) or at the end of 30 treatments, whichever comes first. Patient who are still judged to be improving between treatment 25 and treatment 30 will be eligible to complete up to five addition treatments as the discretion of each site's principal investigator. Patients who meet response criteria (MADRS score decreases by at least 50%) will complete the full course of 30 to 35 TMS sessions. Patients will be withdrawn for safety concerns, particularly the onset of activation suggestive of mania or a mixed state. Patients who meet response or remission criteria will be followed monthly for up to six months to evaluate the durability of response. They will be on standard mood stabilizing medications and psychotherapy per their clinician's discretion.

Interventions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Sponsors

Mayo Clinic
CollaboratorOTHER
Sheppard Pratt Health System
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

- Phase II: 1. Must be at least 18 years old. 2. Must meet DSM-5 criteria for bipolar (either I or II) depression by clinical interview and M.I.N.I. The duration of the current depressive episode must be at least 4 weeks and no longer than 3 years in length. 3. Should have a MADRS score of at least 20 at screening, an YMRS score of less than 12 and a CGI score of at least 4. 4. Must have signed the informed consent document and have a level of understanding sufficient to provide informed consent and to communicate with the investigator and site personnel. 5. Must be on a mood stabilizer acceptable to the study physician which is consistent with their diagnosis. The mood stabilizer must be at a stable dose for at least four days before starting TMS treatment. 6. If female of childbearing potential, patients must 1. have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening, and 2. not be nursing or planning a pregnancy, and 3. be on a medically acceptable method of birth control acceptable to the principal investigator. Choices of contraception that meet the study requirements are * Intrauterine device * Hormonal contraception (estrogen-containing birth control pills, Vaginal ring, patch, injections or implants) * Latex condom with spermicide * Diaphragm with spermicide * Cervical cap with spermicide Females of childbearing potential who are abstinent can enroll in the study.

Exclusion criteria

- Phase II: 1. May not be directly affiliated with Sheppard Pratt Clinical Research Programs or be immediate family of Research Programs personnel. 2. Must not have another primary Axis I diagnosis. 3. The subject must not have stopped an antidepressant less than two weeks before starting TMS treatment or unable to discontinue antidepressant therapy. 4. Should have no previous history of psychosis or substance dependence or abuse within the six months prior to Screening 5. Presence of an Axis II disorder felt by the investigator to potentially interfere with study compliance would exclude a potential participant. 6. Should not have prior intolerance of TMS or significant lack of response to adequate trials of TMS. 7. Should not have a lifetime history of lack of response to ECT or VNS. 8. Should not have any medical condition likely to interfere with safe study participation. 9. Women of child-bearing potential who are not using a medically accepted means of contraception when engaging in sexual intercourse are excluded, as well as women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. 10. Positive urine screen for any substance of abuse will exclude a patient, with the exception of benzodiazepines. A satisfactory explanation in the opinion of the investigator along with a negative repeat screen prior to Visit 2 is possibly acceptable. 11. Current suicide risk, as evidenced: 1. It is the judgment of the investigator that the patient may be at risk for suicide 2. The patient has rated a yes to question 4 or question 5 on the Screening C-SSRS 3. The patient has attempted suicide within the past 12 months prior to Screening. 12. History of head injury, epilepsy or seizure disorder, non-removable metallic implants or objects in or around the head. Inclusion Criteria- Phase III Patients who meet MADRS criteria for response or remission will enter Phase III, the six month follow-up phase of the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The Percentage of Patients Who Respond or Remit After 30 to 35 Treatments Based Off of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)Up to 7 weeksThe MADRS is a clinician rated scale measuring depression severity, consisting of 10 items, each scored from 0 (normal) to 6 (severe), for a total possible score of 60; higher scores denote greater severity. A decrease in MADRS score of at lease 50% will be considered a response to treatment. A MADRS score of less than 10 will be considered remission.
The Percentage of Patients Who Meet Criteria for Onset of Manic Symptoms Based on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).Up to 7 weeksThe Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) is used to determine the severity of a patient's mania. The score for the YMRS ranges form 0 to 60. Scores of 13-19 indicate minimal manic symptoms, 20-25 is mild mania, 26-37 is moderate mania, and 38-60 is severe mania. A YMRS score of 14 or greater will be used for criteria of onset of manic symptoms. The patients will be separated based on their diagnostic category of either Bipolar I Disorder or Bipolar II Disorder.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaUp to 7 weeksThe Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) Rating Scale is a scale used to measure one's depression. The scoring from the scale ranges 0 to 53. Higher scores indicate that a person is more depressed. The scoring ranges from 0-7 is normal, 8-13 is mild depression, 14-18 is moderate depression, 19-22 severe depression, and greater than or equal to 23 is very severe depression. The HAM-D response criteria will be based off a HAM-D score drop of at least 50%. Remission HAM-D score will be 7 or less.
Clinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaUp to 7 weeks and 6 Month Follow UpThe Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale is used to determine the severity of a patient's depression. The scoring for the scale ranges from 1 to 7, where 1 indicates that the patient is normal and 7 indicates a severe depression. Remission criteria for the CGI score will be a 2 or less. Responders and remitters will also be followed for six months after the final treatment to see the durability of response. Percentage of patients' meeting relapse criteria will be calculated.
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Average Number of Treatments Needed to Meet Remission7 WeeksFor the patients meeting remission criteria (Total Number = 21) , we will calculate the number of treatments required to achieve remission. Patients who only meet response criteria will be treated for 30 to 35 sessions.
Clinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Average Number of Treatments Needed to Meet Remission7 WeeksFor the patients meeting remission criteria (Total Number = 27) , we will calculate the number of treatments required to achieve remission. Patients who only meet response criteria will be treated for 30 to 35 sessions.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) Depression
Adults with bipolar (I or II) depression, per DSM-5 criteria, were recruited at Sheppard Pratt and Mayo Clinic between December 2015-February 2020 for TMS. Standardized treatment protocols employed 6 weeks of 10 Hz TMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 120% of motor threshold with 3,000 pulses per session in 4 second trains with intertrain intervals of 26 seconds. All patients were treated concurrently with a mood stabilizer. The primary outcome measure was the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Response and remission were defined as MADRS score reductions of ≥ 50% or score ≤10, respectively. We examined response, remission, and potential contributing factors with multivariate and logistic regression models.
31
Total31

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyAdverse Event1
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPatients With Bipolar (I or II) Depression
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
1 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
30 Participants
Age, Continuous42.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.3
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
31 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale
Participants in remission at baseline
0 Number of participants
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale
Participants responding at baseline
0 Number of participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
29 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
31 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
18 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
13 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 31
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 31
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 31

Outcome results

Primary

The Percentage of Patients Who Meet Criteria for Onset of Manic Symptoms Based on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).

The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) is used to determine the severity of a patient's mania. The score for the YMRS ranges form 0 to 60. Scores of 13-19 indicate minimal manic symptoms, 20-25 is mild mania, 26-37 is moderate mania, and 38-60 is severe mania. A YMRS score of 14 or greater will be used for criteria of onset of manic symptoms. The patients will be separated based on their diagnostic category of either Bipolar I Disorder or Bipolar II Disorder.

Time frame: Up to 7 weeks

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Meet Criteria for Onset of Manic Symptoms Based on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).Bipolar I Disorder20 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Meet Criteria for Onset of Manic Symptoms Based on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).Bipolar II Disorder11 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Meet Criteria for Onset of Manic Symptoms Based on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).Bipolar I Participants with Onset of Maniac Symptoms0 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Meet Criteria for Onset of Manic Symptoms Based on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).Bipolar II Participants with Onset of Maniac Symptoms0 Participants
Primary

The Percentage of Patients Who Respond or Remit After 30 to 35 Treatments Based Off of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)

The MADRS is a clinician rated scale measuring depression severity, consisting of 10 items, each scored from 0 (normal) to 6 (severe), for a total possible score of 60; higher scores denote greater severity. A decrease in MADRS score of at lease 50% will be considered a response to treatment. A MADRS score of less than 10 will be considered remission.

Time frame: Up to 7 weeks

ArmMeasureGroupCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Respond or Remit After 30 to 35 Treatments Based Off of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)Response CriteriaNumber meeting criteria27 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Respond or Remit After 30 to 35 Treatments Based Off of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)Response CriteriaNumber of non-responders4 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Respond or Remit After 30 to 35 Treatments Based Off of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)Remission CriteriaNumber meeting criteria23 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionThe Percentage of Patients Who Respond or Remit After 30 to 35 Treatments Based Off of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)Remission CriteriaNumber of non-responders8 Participants
Comparison: Paired t-test of pre and post treatment scores on MADRSp-value: <0.001t-test, 2 sided
Secondary

Clinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Average Number of Treatments Needed to Meet Remission

For the patients meeting remission criteria (Total Number = 27) , we will calculate the number of treatments required to achieve remission. Patients who only meet response criteria will be treated for 30 to 35 sessions.

Time frame: 7 Weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionClinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Average Number of Treatments Needed to Meet Remission26.48 Number of TreatmentsStandard Deviation 4.45
Secondary

Clinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response Criteria

The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale is used to determine the severity of a patient's depression. The scoring for the scale ranges from 1 to 7, where 1 indicates that the patient is normal and 7 indicates a severe depression. Remission criteria for the CGI score will be a 2 or less. Responders and remitters will also be followed for six months after the final treatment to see the durability of response. Percentage of patients' meeting relapse criteria will be calculated.

Time frame: Up to 7 weeks and 6 Month Follow Up

ArmMeasureGroupCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionClinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaRemission Criteria During 7 Week TreatmentMet criteria27 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionClinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaRemission Criteria During 7 Week TreatmentDid not meet criteria4 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionClinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaRelapse Criteria During 6 Month Follow UpMet criteria9 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionClinical Global Impression (CGI) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaRelapse Criteria During 6 Month Follow UpDid not meet criteria22 Participants
Secondary

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Average Number of Treatments Needed to Meet Remission

For the patients meeting remission criteria (Total Number = 21) , we will calculate the number of treatments required to achieve remission. Patients who only meet response criteria will be treated for 30 to 35 sessions.

Time frame: 7 Weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionHamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Average Number of Treatments Needed to Meet Remission25.76 Number of TreatmentsStandard Deviation 5.02
Secondary

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response Criteria

The Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) Rating Scale is a scale used to measure one's depression. The scoring from the scale ranges 0 to 53. Higher scores indicate that a person is more depressed. The scoring ranges from 0-7 is normal, 8-13 is mild depression, 14-18 is moderate depression, 19-22 severe depression, and greater than or equal to 23 is very severe depression. The HAM-D response criteria will be based off a HAM-D score drop of at least 50%. Remission HAM-D score will be 7 or less.

Time frame: Up to 7 weeks

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionHamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaRemission : Met criteria21 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionHamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaRemission : Non-responders10 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionHamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaResponse : Met criteria24 Participants
Patients With Bipolar (I or II) DepressionHamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) to Calculate Percentage of Patients Meeting Response CriteriaResponse : Non-responders7 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 6, 2026