Investigation of Brain Network Dynamics in Depression

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent

In brief

This research study is being done to gain a better understanding about brain networks that may be involved in depression. The investigators plan to examine how these networks change after the brain is stimulated with "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation" (TMS). TMS is a way of stimulating the brain in order to mildly activate or mildly suppress different brain areas, and is used to treat some forms of depression. It is hoped that this study will facilitate learning more about the structure and function of different brain areas and the ways that they are interconnected to form networks, both in depressed people and in people without depression. In this research study, the effects of TMS will be measured by obtaining "pictures" of the brain with "Magnetic Resonance Imaging" (MRI) and with "Positron Emission Tomography" (PET). More specifically, this will be accomplished with a combined MRI and PET scanner, which is capable of simultaneously obtaining both MRI and PET images of the brain. This scanning paradigm will allow the assessment of local metabolic changes resulting from TMS (with PET images) and brain network changes resulting from TMS (with fMRI). Changes resulting from TMS between 20 subjects with depression and 20 healthy volunteers will be calculated and will form the main outcome measure.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01931995

Run by

Massachusetts General Hospital

People needed

45

Starts

2013-02-01

Expected to finish

2018-07-01

Last updated by the study team

2021-07-07

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Ages 18-50
• Patients with Major Depressive Disorder, as confirmed by a referring provider, DSM-IVR criteria, and/or a Structured Clinical Interview (SCID)
• Score of ≥18 on the 24 item version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)
• Meeting criteria to safely receive fMRI scanning, PET scanning and rTMS.

You may not qualify if…

• Any subject who is pregnant or lactating
• Patients with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, suicidal ideation, or any history of psychosis. Concurrent anxiety disorders will be allowed.
• Any serious concurrent medical or neurological illness
• Any contraindication to receiving TMS, fMRI or PET scans including, but not limited to having: a pacemaker, metallic implants, implanted pumps, surgical aneurysm clips, history of severe head trauma, history of seizures or a first degree relative with epilepsy, been involved in a nuclear medicine study in the past 12 months, diabetes

Where it is running

• Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging/Massachusetts General Hospital — Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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