Actively Recruiting
Comparing the Efficacy of Accelerated vs. Standard fMRI-guided iTBS in Treating Adolescents Depression
Led by The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre · Updated on 2025-09-09
10
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
104 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
T
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Lead Sponsor
U
Université de Sherbrooke
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a Health Canada approved treatment for major depression. Theta burst stimulation (TBS), a type of rTMS, is a very promising new treatment for major depression in adults and adolescents. However, very few studies have assessed the efficacy of accelerated, three times a day TBS in comparison with standard once a day TBS in adolescents. The study aims to explore further evidence in hopes to conduct a large-scale, randomized, multisite, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the effects of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-guided accelerated rTMS protocol vs. standard once/daily rTMS for treatment-resistant depression in adolescents.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Comparing the Efficacy of Accelerated vs. Standard fMRI-guided iTBS in Treating Adolescents Depression
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Voluntary and competent to consent.
- Ages 16-19 years old.
- Can speak and read English.
- Primary and/or predominant diagnosis of major depressive episode without psychotic features in the current episode, confirmed by The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID).
- Depressive symptoms have not improved after 2 1 adequate dose of antidepressant in the current depressive episode.
- Moderate symptoms in the current depressive episode, indexed by a score of at least 40 on the Children's Depression Rating Scale Revised for depression (CDRS-R).
- Are able to adhere to the treatment schedule.
- Have stable psychotropic medications and/or psychotherapy regimen for at least four weeks before participating in the trial.
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria.
- Current or past substance (< 3 months) (excluding caffeine or nicotine) or alcohol abuse/dependence, as defined in the DSM-5 criteria. Mild cannabis or alcohol use in the past 3 months is allowed; moderate to severe use is excluded.
- Current use of illegal substances or cannabis confirmed by urine screening test.
- Concomitant unstable major medical or neurological disease (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes or renal dysfunction).
- Organic cause of depressive symptoms (e.g. thyroid dysfunction), ruled out by the treating physician.
- Acute suicidality or life-threatening due to self-neglect.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant during treatment (pregnancy will be assessed by a urine test).
- Have a specific contraindication to TMS and/or MRI (e.g., personal history of epilepsy or seizures, metal head implant, pacemaker).
- Unwilling to maintain the current antidepressant regimen.
- Taking more than 1 mg/day of lorazepam or equivalent.
- Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would impair the participant's ability to complete the study.
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1Z 7K4
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Stacey Shim, MSc
CONTACT
M
Maya El-Outa, BSc
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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