Study of Accelerated Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation After Electroconvulsive Therapy in Adults With Severe Depression

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether an additional treatment using transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS can help patients with severe major depressive disorder who did not respond well to electroconvulsive therapy ECT. This phase IV study focuses on patients who show limited improvement after ECT, exploring how brain function, genetics, and gut health relate to treatment outcomes. About 200 participants will be included in this research. All participants initially receive standard ECT for depression along with brain scans fMRI, psychological tests, clinical assessments, and collection of blood and stool samples. Those who do not achieve remission after ECT are offered a 4-day course of accelerated deep TMS, which consists of 20 sessions in total. After this dTMS treatment, additional brain scans, clinical tests, and biological samples are collected to assess changes. Participants will be involved in assessments before and after ECT and after the dTMS treatment if applicable. These include clinician-rated and self-reported measures of depression severity and suicidal thoughts, psychological testing, and neuroimaging. The study carefully monitors treatment effects and biological markers to understand the response. Participation may last several weeks, covering ECT treatment, dTMS sessions, and follow-up evaluations.

Accelerated TMS for Treatment-Resistant ECT