PCS in Severe Treatment Resistant Depression

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Treatment Resistant Depression

In brief

This research study is designed to test if electrical stimulation of the surface of the brain in the frontal region will help treat depressive symptoms. Participants receive intermittent electrical stimulation to the brain, which involves surgically placing electric leads in between the tough fibrous membrane covering the surface of the brain and the surface of the brain itself. This type of stimulation is referred to as bilateral subdural prefrontal cortical stimulation (PCS) because it will specifically target the outer layer of the brain at the midline, right behind the forehead. It uses a pacemaker-like device, the Proclaim Elite SCS System (non-rechargeable) or the Eterna SCS System (rechargeable), both by Abbott Laboratories for stimulation. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Proclaim Elite SCS system for brain stimulation for patients with chronic pain and muscular diseases, such as Parkinson's, its use is still investigational, and the surgery is still experimental for patients who have depression.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT04124341
Run by: University of Minnesota
People needed: 15
Starts: 2021-09-29
Expected to finish: 2032-12-31
Last updated by the study team: 2026-01-20

Who can join

Age: 22 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Participant must be able to provide written informed consent.
Participant has a diagnosis of chronic (greater than or equal to 2 years) depressive episode as defined by DSM V criteria
Participant has not had an adequate response to four or more adequate antidepressant treatments from at least two different antidepressant treatment categories in the current depressive episode according to the Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF)
Participant must have had ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) or refused to undergo ECT if clinically indicated to them
Participant must have HRSD greater than or equal to 20 at study entry
Participant must be able to complete the evaluations needed for this study including the functional imaging scans and the EEG Bayesian optimization sessions
Participant must be under the care of a licensed psychiatrist, undergoing regular care evaluations, and inform study team of any change to care team during study participation
Participant must agree to allow all forms of communication between investigators and study staff and any health care provider (current or having provided service within two years of enrollment)
Participant must provide name and contact information for at least two people greater than or equal to 22 in age who reside within a 30 minute drive of the participant's residents and whom staff may contact as necessary during study participation
Participant must be enrolled in a Medicare program

You may not qualify if…

The PCS would (in the investigator's judgment) pose an unacceptable surgical or medical risk for the participant
Participant is unable to undergo required full body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the clinical study
Participant is judged by the investigator to be acutely suicidal (e.g. within the 30 days prior to the PCS implant the participant has made a suicide attempt or gesture or has made specific plans or preparation to commit suicide or scores 21 or higher on the MSSI)
In addition to the acute suicidal risks mentioned above, participant meets any of the following:
Has made a suicide attempt within the previous 12 months that required medical treatment
Has made greater than or equal to two suicide attempts in the past 12 months
Has a clear-cut plan for suicide that states that she/he cannot guarantee that she/he will call her/his regular psychiatrist or the Investigator if the impulse to implement the plan becomes substantial during the study
Is likely to attempt suicide within the next six months, in the Investigator's opinion
Participant has a history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other psychotic disorder, or a current major depressive episode that includes psychotic features (commonly referred to as psychotic depression) according to the DSM V criteria
Participant with a diagnosis of dementia with a Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) less than or equal to 23
Participant with a positive urine pregnancy test
Participant with a positive urine drug screen
Participant with DBS (Deep Brain Stimulator)
Participant with VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulator) if the device was active in the last 6 months prior to study enrollment
Participant with history of seizures
Participant determined by surgical safety committee to have cerebral atrophy, neurodegenerative or neurovascular disease due to age or medical condition that would prohibit optimal surgical safety, per clinical MRI

Where it is running

University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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