The Effects of SAINT® Neuromodulation System on Explicit and Implicit Suicidal Cognition

Stopped early · Phase 2/Phase 3 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Major Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Episode, Suicidal Ideation

In brief

This multi-site, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled mechanistic trial aims to test the effects of Magnus Neuromodulation System (MNS) with Stanford Accelerated Intermittent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT®) Technology on the neural circuitry of suicidal cognitions in psychiatrically hospitalized patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and active suicidal ideation (SI). This will be accomplished by applying the MNS with SAINT to a customized target within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) identified with fMRI for five consecutive days and measuring resting-state functional connectivity (RS FC) between the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) and the default mode network (DMN) at baseline and immediate-post visit. The relationship between changes in RS FC and changes in both Explicit and Implicit Suicidal Cognitions (ESC and ISC, respectively) will be determined. This study will also determine the relationship between changes in RS FC in neural networks underlying mediators of suicidal cognitions and changes in such mediators with active versus sham SAINT.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT03693105
Run by: Magnus Medical
People needed: 2
Starts: 2024-06-30
Expected to finish: 2025-03-06
Last updated by the study team: 2025-03-24

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Adults of all genders between the ages of 18 and 75 years at the time of screening.
Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to screening.
Proficiency in English sufficient to complete questionnaires / follow instructions during fMRI assessments and aiTBS treatments. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures, including availability for the duration of the study, and to communicate with study personnel about adverse events and other clinically important information.
Currently diagnosed with either Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and meets criteria for a current Major Depressive Episode (MDE) according to the criteria defined in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5).
Medical records confirming a history of moderate to severe treatment-resistance as defined by a score of 7-14 on the Maudsley Staging Method (MSM).
Endorses clinically significant explicit suicidal cognitions (score ≥ 9 on the M-SSI and score ≥ 6 on the BSS self-report) at screening.
MADRS score of >/=20 at screening (visit 1).
rTMS/iTBS naive.
Access to ongoing psychiatric care before and after completion of the study.
Access to clinical rTMS after hospital discharge.
In good general health, as evidenced by medical history.
For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation.
Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle considerations:
Abstain from becoming pregnant from the screening visit (Visit 1) until after the final study visit (Visit 9).
Abstain from caffeine- or xanthine-containing products (e.g., coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate) for 3 hours before the start of each dosing session until after the final TMS session.
Abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before the start of each dosing session until after collection of the final MRI.
Participants who use tobacco products will be instructed that use of cigarettes will not be allowed during the trial.

You may not qualify if…

Females who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study or any female that is breastfeeding
The presence or diagnosis of prominent anxiety disorder, personality disorder, or dysthymia in which in the Investigator's opinion is predominant to MDD
Depressed mood/dysphoria as a result of an illness other than MDD (e.g. gender dysphoria)
Current severe insomnia (must sleep a minimum of 5 hours each night before stimulation)
Current mania or psychosis
Bipolar Affective Disorder I and primary psychotic disorders.
Autism Spectrum disorder or Intellectual Disability
A diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Current moderate or severe substance use disorder or demonstrating signs of acute substance withdrawal.
Urine screening test positive for illicit substances.
Any history of ECT (greater than 8 sessions) without meeting responder criteria
No recent (during the current depressive episode) or concurrent use of a rapid acting antidepressant agent (i.e., ketamine or a course of ECT).
History of significant neurologic disease, including dementia, Parkinson's or Huntington's disease, brain tumor, unexpected seizure/epilepsy disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma.
Untreated or insufficiently treated endocrine disorder.
Contraindications to receiving rTMS (e.g., metal in head, history of seizure, known brain lesion)
Contraindications to MRI (ferromagnetic metal in their body).
Any current or past history of any physical condition which in the investigator's opinion might put the subject at risk or interfere with study results interpretation.
Treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within the study period.
Depth-adjusted SAINT® treatment dose > 65% maximum stimulator output (MSO)
Any other condition deemed by the PI to interfere with the study or increase risk to the participant.

Where it is running

University of Iowa — Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Weill Cornell Medicine — Manhattan, New York, United States
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) — Charleston, South Carolina, United States
University of Texas, Austin — Austin, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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