Search for Novel Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Targets for Mental Illness

Recruiting now · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Mood Disorders, Psychiatric Disorder, Mental Disorder, Depression, Anxiety

In brief

Participants will receive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at a random location in the left prefrontal cortex, excluding sites that are potentially unsafe. Extensive behavioral testing will be conducted to determine which behaviors are modulated by stimulating which circuits.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06376734

Run by

Brigham and Women's Hospital

People needed

180

Starts

2025-01-30

Expected to finish

2030-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-16

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 18-65
• English proficiency sufficient for informed consent, questionnaires/tasks, and treatment
• Primary diagnosis of one of the following: major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or schizophrenia (determined by focal assessment using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5)
• ≥20 on the Beck Depression Inventory for patients with MDD
• ≥16 on the Beck Anxiety Inventory for patients with GAD
• ≥16 on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for patients with OCD
• ≥58 on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale for patients with schizophrenia
• Stable psychotropic medication regimen, or remain medication free, for 4 weeks prior to treatment (Medication changes during study enrollment period will be tracked for post hoc analysis).
• Primary clinician (e.g. psychiatrist, therapist, psychologist, APRN, PA, etc.) responsible for psychiatric care before, during, and after the trial

You may not qualify if…

• Active pregnancy as determined by a urine pregnancy test
• Cluster B personality disorders (antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder)
• PTSD with active, clinically significant symptoms, as determined by clinician
• Diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type
• Recent (within 4 weeks) or concurrent use of rapid-acting antidepressant agent (ketamine/esketamine/ECT)
• Ferromagnetic metallic implant that would contraindicate receiving TMS or obtaining MRI
• Any other TMS or MRI safety concerns identified by the clinician
• Receiving or planning to receive other TMS treatments during course of participation
• History of:
• Neurosurgical intervention for mental illness
• Moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder
• Intellectual disability
• Severe cognitive impairment
• Significant neurological illness (e.g., dementia, Parkinson's, Huntington's, brain tumor, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis)
• Untreated or insufficiently treated endocrine disorder
• Eating disorders
• Treatment with investigational drug or intervention during the study period
• Current evidence of:
• Mania or hypomania
• Active suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt within the past year
• Contraindications to either TMS or MRI (e.g., metallic implants, etc.).
• Current moderate or severe substance use disorder or demonstrating signs of acute substance withdrawal
• Significantly increased seizure risk as determined by a clinician
• For participants with schizophrenia:
• Evidence of impaired capacity to consent, e.g. impaired insight into illness, as deemed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist on the study team

Where it is running

• Acacia Clinics — Sunnyvale, California, United States (enrolling)
• Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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