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Clinical Trials/NCT04486222
NCT04486222TerminatedNot Applicable

Therapeutic Effect of Accelerated Bilateral Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Geriatric Depression: a Prospective Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

National Taiwan University Hospital1 site in 1 country2 target enrollmentStarted: November 23, 2020Last updated:
Conditions
Interventions

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Terminated
Enrollment
2
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Degree of Change in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D 17)

Study Overview

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of accelerated bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on major depression, anxiety, cognitive function and physiological parameters in elderly depressive patients.

Detailed Description

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment, showing good therapeutic effect to medicine treatment-refractory patients. Recent studies suggested bilateral DLPFC might be effective to geriatric depression. Accelerated treatment course was reported to have similar therapeutic effect and safety profile with traditional course. The investigators hypothesize accelerated bilateral rTMS is effective to geriatric depression and comorbid anxiety.

Cognitive impairment and decreased parasympathetic tone are common in patients with major depression. The investigators hypothesize cognitive function and physiological indicators improve after accelerated bilateral rTMS.

In this single-center, prospective double-blind, randomized, active-controlled trial, the investigators aim to recruit 100 patients older than 60 years, without neurocognitive disorders, and refractory to one or more antidepressants. The experimental group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation at left DLPFC followed by low-frequency inhibition at right DLPFC, two sessions daily, five days a week, and two weeks in total. The standard treatment group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation at left DLPFC as standard treatment parameters. Mood, cognition and physiological markers would be monitored every week. The primary outcome is response and remission rate of major depression measured by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
60 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • •age between 60-85 years
  • •literate and received basic education for at least 2 years
  • •diagnosis of major depressive disorder, without psychotic features, according to DSM-5
  • •have a score of 20 or greater on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
  • •failed to achieve clinical response by at least 1 antidepressant trial of sufficient dosage for at least 4 weeks
  • •psychoactive agents were in stable doses before randomization

Exclusion Criteria

  • •active suicide plans or attempts; or suicide attempts in the last 12 months
  • •diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder according to DSM-5
  • •have DSM-5-confirmed substance use disorder (excluding tobacco) in the last 3 months
  • •have delirium, major neurocognitive disorder or MMSE < 24
  • •current use of bupropion >300 mg/day, tricyclic antidepressant, clozapine, chlorpromazine, foscarnet, ganciclovir, ritonavir, theophylline or anti-epileptic agents excluding benzodiazepines
  • •history of severe head trauma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain tumors, intracranial aneurysm, active intracranial infection, increased intracranial pressure, metallic implants in the brain, major brain surgery or major neurological diseases
  • •with a cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator
  • •received rTMS treatment before

Arms & Interventions

Experimental Group

Experimental

The experimental group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation (10Hz) at left DLPFC (120% motor threshold, 40 trains, 1600 pulses) followed by low-frequency (1Hz) inhibition at right DLPFC (120% motor threshold, 10 trains, 1200 pulses), two sessions daily with a 1.5-hour inter-session interval (L't active-R't active-1.5 hr-L't active-R't active), five days a week, and two weeks in total.

Intervention: Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Device)

Standard Treatment Group

Active Comparator

The standard treatment group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation (10Hz) at left DLPFC (120% motor threshold, 40 trains, 1600 pulses) followed by sham inhibition at right DLPFC (1Hz, 10 trains, 1200 pulses); after a 1.5-hour inter-session interval, a sham session would be administered at left and right DLPFC (L't active-R't sham-1.5 hr-L't sham-R't sham. The course would be applied five days a week, and two weeks in total.

Intervention: Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Device)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Degree of Change in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D 17)

Time Frame: day 1, day 5, day 12, day 19

HAM-D 17 is a scale rating the severity of depression, covering emotional, cognitive and somatic symptoms of depression. Higher scores indicate higher severity. Response to treatment is defined as ≥ 50% decrease in HAM-D 17; remission is defined as ≤ 7 points in HAM-D 17.

Secondary Outcomes

  • Degree of Change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)(day 1, day 5, day 12, day 19)
  • Degree of Change in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)(day 1, day 5, day 12, day 19)
  • Degree of Change in Stroop Test(day 1, day 5, day 12, day 19)
  • Degree of Change in Trail Making Test(day 1, day 5, day 12, day 19)
  • Degree of Change in Verbal Fluency Test(day 1, day 5, day 12, day 19)
  • Degree of Change in Physiological Parameters(day 1, day 5, day 12, day 19)

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor

Study Sites (1)

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