Clinical Trials

Please read more below to learn more about our active trials and see which one might be the right fit for you. If you are interested in participating, please contact us on email at iptrials@health.ucsd.eduor call 858-207-0938.

Frequency and E-field Enhancement of ITBS for Depression (FREED) 

 Funder: National Institute of Health

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov

Target Population: 75 patients within the ages of 18-80 with DSM-5 diagnosis of treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Conditions: Randomized 3-arm double-blinded parallel experimental trial with 15-20 sessions over 4 to 7 weeks.

1. Fully Individualized form of intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) using both the frequency and electric field (E-field) targeting approaches (Ind-iTBS)
2. iTBS individualized using E-field targeting only (targeted-iTBS)
3. Standard iTBS treatment i.e., typical iTBS localized to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using the Beam F3 method

Compensation: up to $120 based on completion of each visit.

Pre-Screen Survey

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Cortical Inhibition as a Biomarker of Response in a Comparison of Bilateral Versus Unilateral Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation for Suicidal Ideation in Treatment-Resistant Depression (COMBAT-SI)

 Funder: National Institute of Health

Clinical Trial Registration:  ClinicalTrials.gov.

Target Population: Adults aged 18 to 70 that are experiencing treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation.

Conditions:

1. Standard accelerated repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) given 10 times per day for five days involving 2 minutes of sham stimulation on the right hemisphere of the brain, and 10 minutes of active standard rTMS on the left hemisphere of the brain.
2. Bi-lateral accelerated rTMS given 10 times per day for five days involving 2 minutes of continuous stimulation on the right hemisphere of the brain, and 10 minutes of active standard accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation on the left hemisphere of the brain.

Pre-Screen Survey

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Dose-Optimized and Spaced Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression: a Randomized Controlled Trial 

Clinical trial registration: iptrials@health.ucsd.edu

Target population: 75 participants, aged 18-85, diagnosed with MDD according to DSM-5 criteria and exhibiting at least moderate treatment-resistance.

Conditions: The study will consist of three 3 arms:

(1) a dose-optimized and spaced form of tDCS (i.e. using BOTH dose-optimization and spaced stimulation [DOS-tDCS]),

(2) spaced tDCS only and

(3) sham tDCS. 

Participants will first complete an acute intensive induction phase consisting of daily treatment every weekday over 2 weeks (10 days total) followed by a consolidation phase consisting of weekly treatments (once a week) over 4 additional weeks (6 weeks total)

Compensation: Participants can receive a maximum of $200 for completing all trial-related activities.

Pre-Screen Survey

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Biomarkers

Target Population: 75 healthy control volunteers, and 150 right-handed volunteers 18 years of age or older who are clinically prescribed to neuromodulatory treatment with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) diagnosis.

Conditions:

1.Assessment of healthy volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Electromyography (TMS-EMG), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Electroencephalography (TMS-EEG), resting state EEG, and EEG simultaneous with game-based assessments of your cognitive functions session for brain physiology assessment.

2. Assessment of patients receiving neuromodulatory treatment for depression such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST), Ketamine, etc., involving an fMRI scan prior to treatment, TMS-EEG and TMS-EMG sessions before and after treatment, and an EEG session with game-based cognitive assessments, once at pre-treatment and once at post-treatment.

Compensation: up to $200

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PACT TMS: Combined Neuromodulation and Cognitive Training for Post-mTBI Depression

Funder: Department of Defense

Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05682677

Target Population: Individuals with depression and a history of concussion, age 18-65

Conditions: 

1. 6 sessions of cognitive training plus 20 3-minute sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over 4 weeks

2. 6 sessions of cognitive training plus 20 3-minute sessions of sham rTMS over 4 weeks

Compensation: up to $300

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Mindfulness Engaged Neurostimulation for Depression (MEND) 

Funder: National Institute of Health

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov

Target Population: 70 patients within the ages of 18-60 with DSM-5 diagnosis of treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Conditions: Randomized 3-arm double-blind parallel experimental trial with 20 sessions over 4 to 7 weeks.

1. iTBS targeted to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) applied at individual e-field intensity (Targeted iTBS) with attention to breath mindfulness training up to 10 minutes per session. 
2. Targeted iTBS with attention to breath mindfulness training up to 20 minutes per session.
3. Targeted iTBS with relaxed deep breathing training up to 20 minutes per session.

Compensation: up to $300 based on completion of all study visits.

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Individualized Neuromodulation for Anhedonic Depression (Wellcome Leap)

This study is no longer recruiting. 

Funder: Wellcome Leap Foundation

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov

Target Population: Adults aged 18 to 80 years old who are suffering from treatment-resistant depression.

Conditions:

1. 10-minute sessions of standard accelerated intermittent theta burst TMS 10 times per day over 5 days.
2. 10-minute sessions of individualized accelerated intermittent theta burst TMS 10 times per day over 5 days.
3. 10-minute sessions of sham or placebo accelerated intermittent theta burst TMS 10 times per day over 5 days.

Compensation: up to $270 based on the completion of each visit.

Pre-Screen Survey

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Confirmatory Efficacy and Safety Trial of Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Depression (CREST-MST)

This study is no longer recruiting. Patients were assigned to Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This study was funded by the National Institute of Health. Read more about this study on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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