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Linear Asymmetric rTMS in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: Tolerability of Treatment Durations Ranging From Ten Days to One Day

Dose-Response Study of Linear Asymmetric rTMS in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: Tolerability of Treatment Durations Ranging From Ten Days to One Day

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03986658
Enrollment
19
Registered
2019-06-14
Start date
2022-03-31
Completion date
2022-12-31
Last updated
2021-09-01

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

Conditions

Treatment Resistant Depression

Keywords

Major Depressive Disorder, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Treatment-Resistant Depression, Adolescents

Brief summary

This is a pilot interventional study to investigate the acceptability, tolerability, and side effect profile for varying numbers of treatment sessions/day of a new rTMS treatment in adolescents with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Conventional rTMS has been limited to sinusoidal biphasic electromagnetic pulses. In contrast, the First Dawn rTMS system by NeuroQore can sustain a repetitive linear asymmetric pulse. In addition, identification of rTMS treatment sites in adolescents with TRD most often relies on anatomic landmarks, but the First Dawn rTMS system utilizes personal fMRI data in a novel algorithm to determine where to apply the rTMS in each patient. Based on adult data in healthy volunteers and patients with TRD, the investigators propose that the First Dawn rTMS system will be acceptable and well-tolerated by adolescents and will have minimal side effects. Please see https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02667041 for details on the completed pilot study in adults. The investigators aim to investigate acceptability, tolerability, and side effects in groups of patients receiving treatment in numbers of sessions/day that are gradually accelerated over the course of the study. Results will be used to inform the development of a randomized controlled trial.

Detailed description

The 18 patients will be placed into 6 sub-groups sequentially as they are enrolled. All patients will receive a maximum of 30,000 pulses in their treatment course, as tolerated. The first group will receive daily sessions, similar to standard rTMS treatment. Each of the remaining groups will be set to receive more frequent sessions/day in decreasing numbers of days on a graduated schedule while holding the total number of pulses for each patient's treatment course at 30,000 pulses. in addition, the investigators will recruit one healthy volunteer to test fMRI server data transfer and analysis. This healthy volunteer will not receive rTMS. Primary Objectives The primary objectives of this study are to assess: 1) the feasibility of enrollment (number of patients who enroll divided by the number of patients approached), 2) study retention (number of patients completing the study divided by the number enrolled), and 3) AE/SE profile of the treatment at each protocol level and 4) patient experience in the study across the sample and within the sub-groups. Secondary Objectives The secondary objectives of this study are to: 1) evaluate daily changes in symptoms of depression and mental status; 2) evaluate fMRI changes in the LDLPFC after treatment; 3) evaluate post-treatment and 3-month changes in depression symptoms, global function, mental status, verbal memory.

Interventions

DEVICELinear Asymmetric rTMS System

Linear Asymmetric rTMS System

Sponsors

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
CollaboratorOTHER
NeuroQore Inc.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

rTMS

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
15 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion: 1. Meets criteria for DSM-5 MDD, as determined by a structured psychiatric interview. 2. Meets criteria for TRD: 1. failed two adequate courses of antidepressant medication OR 2. failed adequate course of medication AND one course of psychotherapy. 3. Score of \> 40 on Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised OR score of \> 20 on Child Depression Inventory-2. 4. Fluent in speaking and reading English. Exclusion: 1. Positive pregnancy test. 2. Current or past: bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, substance use disorder, conduct disorder, as determined by a structured psychiatric interview. 3. Medical illness that could lower the seizure threshold, e.g., epilepsy from any cause. 4. Medications that could lower the seizure threshold or affect brain function. 5. Psychotropic medications changed in two weeks prior to enrollment. 6. Fails the TMS safety screening questionnaire. 7. Fails fMRI screening process. 8. Left-handed (may indicate different cortical lateralization which could affect outcomes). 9. Involuntarily committed to the hospital.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patient Enrollment RateThrough study completion, an average of 10 monthsNumber of patients who give consent divided by the number who are approached.
Patient Completion RateThrough study completion, an average of 10 monthsNumber of patients who complete the study divided by the number of patients who enroll in the study.
Side Effects ProfileThrough study completion, an average of 10 monthsMeasured with the rTMS Side Effect Questionnaire
Patient ExperienceThrough study completion, an average of 10 monthsMeasured with the Multi-Care Institute for Research and Innovation Research Participant Satisfaction Questionnaire

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in self-reported MDD symptomsChange from baseline score to score at 3 monthsMeasured with the Child Depression Inventory-2.(CDI-2)
Change in short-term verbal memoryChange from baseline score to score at 3 monthsMeasured with the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HLVT-R)
Change in clinician-rated MDD symptomsChange from baseline score to score at 3 monthsMeasured with the Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R)
Change in functionChange from baseline score to score at 3 monthsMeasured with the Children's Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS)
Change in mental statusChange from baseline score to score at 3 monthsMeasured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactKathleen Pajer, MD
kpajer@cheo.on.ca613-737-7600
Backup ContactPaula Cloutier
pcloutier@cheo.on.ca

Outcome results

None listed

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