Selective Attention Deficits and Neuromodulation in Major Depressive Disorder Using EEG and MRI-guided Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether stimulating the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) can improve cognitive control and reduce attention problems in people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This study compares brain stimulation guided by MRI-based neuronavigation to a manual method called the Beam F3 method to see which better affects attention and brain activity in MDD. The trial is double-blind and sham-controlled, involving behavioral tests and EEG measurements to understand the brain mechanisms involved. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: the active group receives MRI-guided iTBS targeting the left DLPFC, while the sham group receives stimulation using the Beam F3 manual method. The iTBS treatment involves 20-minute sessions twice a day for five days a week over two weeks, totaling 10 days of treatment. The active group’s stimulation uses a neuro-modulation protocol with precise coil positioning guided by MRI, while the sham group uses a standardized cap placement method. During the study, participants complete behavioral tasks and EEG recordings before and after the two-week treatment to measure changes in attention and brain activity. Depression severity is assessed 60 to 90 minutes before the first and after the last iTBS treatments. Researchers also analyze changes in brain connectivity and event-related potentials related to the cognitive tasks. The study runs from January 2024 to December 2028 and involves careful monitoring and comparisons between the two stimulation methods to evaluate their impact on selective attention in MDD.

Neuromodulation and Attention Deficits in MDD