Context-Guided Personalized iTBS for Depression

NCT07743398 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: BRWEP2024W072120106
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether context-guided personalized intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) works better than standard iTBS for adults with major depressive disorder. iTBS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. Participants will be assigned by chance to one of two treatment groups. The standard treatment group will receive iTBS at a commonly used target in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after watching a neutral video. The personalized treatment group will receive iTBS at an individual brain target selected using magnetic resonance imaging data. Before each treatment session, participants in this group will watch a positive emotional video intended to activate brain functions related to the selected target. Both groups will receive five iTBS sessions per day for five consecutive treatment days. Participants will continue their stable antidepressant treatment during the study. The main question is whether context-guided personalized iTBS results in a higher treatment response rate than standard iTBS two weeks after treatment. Treatment response is defined as a reduction of at least 50% from baseline in the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score. Researchers will also compare early changes in depression, anxiety and other clinical symptoms, changes in brain imaging measures, and any side effects. Clinical and brain imaging assessments will be conducted before and after the treatment course, and clinical symptoms will be assessed again two weeks after treatment.

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Treatment Response Rate at 2-Week Follow-up Based on HAMD-17

  The treatment response rate is defined as the proportion of participants with a reduction of at least 50% from baseline in the total score of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) at the 2-week follow-up. The HAMD-17 is a clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms, with lower scores indicating fewer depressive symptoms. Treatment response rates will be compared between the context-guided personalized iTBS arm and the standard left DLPFC iTBS arm. The HAMD-17 total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. Change from baseline is calculated as the post-baseline score minus the baseline score, with negative values indicating improvement.

  At 2 weeks after completion of treatment (Day 21 ± 2 days).

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Early Treatment Response Rate Based on HAMD-17

  Baseline to immediately after completion of the treatment intervention

• Change From Baseline in HAMD-17 Factor Scores

  Baseline, immediately after completion of treatment, and 2 weeks after completion of treatment

• Change From Baseline in QIDS-SR16 Total Score

  Baseline, immediately after completion of treatment, and 2 weeks after completion of treatment

• Change From Baseline in HAMA Total Score

  Baseline, immediately after completion of treatment, and 2 weeks after completion of treatment

• Incidence of Adverse Events

  From the first treatment session through the 2-week follow-up after completion of treatment

Study Arms (2)

Context-Guided Personalized iTBS

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm will receive context-guided personalized intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). An individualized stimulation target in the left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex will be selected based on the participant's functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Before each iTBS session, participants will watch a positive emotional video intended to engage the brain functions related to the individualized target. Participants will receive five iTBS sessions per day, with approximately 50 minutes between sessions, for five consecutive treatment days. Each session will last approximately 10 minutes and deliver 1,800 pulses at 100% of the resting motor threshold.

Device: Context-Guided Personalized Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation

Standard Left DLPFC iTBS

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants assigned to this arm will receive standard intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Before each iTBS session, participants will watch a neutral video. Participants will receive five iTBS sessions per day, with approximately 50 minutes between sessions, for five consecutive treatment days. Each session will last approximately 10 minutes and deliver 1,800 pulses at 100% of the resting motor threshold.

Device: Standard Left DLPFC Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation

Interventions

Context-Guided Personalized Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation DEVICE

An individualized stimulation target in the left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is selected using the participant's functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Before each stimulation session, the participant watches a positive emotional video intended to engage brain functions related to the selected target. Intermittent theta burst stimulation is delivered at 100% of the resting motor threshold. Each session delivers 1,800 pulses over approximately 10 minutes. Participants receive five sessions per day, with approximately 50 minutes between sessions, for five consecutive treatment days.

Context-Guided Personalized iTBS

Standard Left DLPFC Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation DEVICE

Intermittent theta burst stimulation is delivered to a standard treatment target in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Before each stimulation session, the participant watches a neutral video. Stimulation is delivered at 100% of the resting motor threshold. Each session delivers 1,800 pulses over approximately 10 minutes. Participants receive five sessions per day, with approximately 50 minutes between sessions, for five consecutive treatment days.

Standard Left DLPFC iTBS

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male or female outpatients or inpatients aged 18 to 55 years, inclusive.
• Right-handed.
• Diagnosis of major depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), confirmed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Both first and recurrent depressive episodes are eligible.
• A 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) total score of at least 14 at both screening and baseline.
• At enrollment, participants may be antidepressant-free or may have received an antidepressant at no less than the minimum effective dose for at least 4 weeks. The antidepressant may be combined with no more than two other medications, and the type and dosage of medications must remain unchanged from enrollment until study completion.
• At least primary school education and able to understand the study procedures and requirements.
• Able to undergo magnetic resonance imaging and intermittent theta burst stimulation safely.
• Voluntarily agrees to participate and provides written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Serious or unstable medical or neurological illness.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• History of seizure, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, or central nervous system tumor.
• Contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging, including claustrophobia, an electronic or metallic implant, or a non-removable metallic dental prosthesis.
• Receipt of systematic modified electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, or another physical neuromodulation treatment within 3 months before screening.
• Excessive head motion during MRI scanning (rotation exceeding 3.0° and/or translation exceeding 3 mm)
• Resting motor threshold remaining at or above 70% of the device maximum stimulator output after repeated testing, when the investigator considers continued treatment to present a safety concern.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Capital Medical University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100088, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Major

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Zhi Yang, PhD

  Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Zhi Yang, PhD

CONTACT

+86 186 1171 0840; yangz@mail.ccmu.edu.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 29, 2026
• First Posted: August 3, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2027
• Last Updated: August 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)