Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression in Multiple Sclerosis

Starting soon · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Multiple Sclerosis, Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, Fatigue

In brief

Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS patients experience disabling motor, visual, and sensory symptoms, and a high risk of comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and severe fatigue. The lifetime prevalence of MDD in MS patients is about 50%, and nearly 90% experience severe fatigue, both of which are not responsive to typical treatments. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a first line, Health Canada approved non-invasive neurostimulation treatment for MDD. rTMS induces electrical activity in the cortex using magnetic fields generated outside of the head to drive neuronal firing in the target site. However, MS is typically an exclusion criterion due to safety concerns. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can be used to treat depression symptoms in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). rTMS is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific parts of the brain. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is rTMS safe, tolerable, and feasible to deliver as a treatment for depression and fatigue symptoms in individuals with MS? Does rTMS show preliminary effectiveness in improving depression and fatigue symptoms in this population? Researchers will determine whether rTMS treatment improves mood, fatigue, and cognition across time points (baseline, after treatment, and 4-week follow-up). Participants will: Complete screening, questionnaires, clinical assessments, cognitive tests, a brain MRI to help tailor the TMS treatment, and receive daily TMS sessions for 5 consecutive days, including: Pre-TMS brain mapping, five rTMS treatments (3 minutes) per day, separated by one hour. A safety and tolerability questionnaire will be administered daily. Complete post-treatment assessments (questionnaires, cognitive tests, psychiatric evaluation). Complete a 4-week follow-up visit, in person or virtually. Wear a fitness tracking watch during the study so researchers can collect activity data remotely. About 20 people will take part in this study through the University of Calgary.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07562074

Run by

University of Calgary

People needed

20

Starts

2026-06-15

Expected to finish

2027-12-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-01

Who can join

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

You may qualify if…

• 18-65 years of age, inclusive.
• Males, females, and non-binary.
• Clinical diagnosis of relapsing-remitting or primary-progressive multiple sclerosis according to the revised McDonald criteria and as determined by the study neurologist and medical records.
• Expanded Disability Status Scale score <7.
• Fatigue Severity Scale ≥ 4.
• Moderate to severe major depressive disorder as defined by a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 item score ≥18.
• Did not benefit adequately from ≥ 1 antidepressant or course of psychotherapy.
• Stable immunotherapy for at least 3 months and medications for at least 4 weeks.
• Have no contraindications to TMS or magnetic resonance imaging.
• Ability to provide written consent obtained from study subject or subject's legal representative and ability for study subject to comply with the requirements of the study.
• Are able to adhere to the treatment schedule
• Pass the TMS adult safety screening (TASS) questionnaire

You may not qualify if…

• Presence of any disease, medical condition, or physical condition that, in the opinion of the study investigator, study psychiatrist, or study neurologist, may compromise interfere, limit, affect, or reduce the study subject's ability to complete the study.
• Presence of any disease, medical condition, or physical condition that, in the opinion of the study investigator, study psychiatrist, or study neurologist, may adversely impact the safety of the study subject or the integrity of the data.
• History of seizures.
• Any cranial metal implants (excluding ≤ 1mm thick epicranial titanium skull plates and dental fillings) or medical devices (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, deep brain stimulator, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant).
• Previous surgeries opening the skull leaving skull defects capable of allowing the insertion of a cylinder with a radius ≥ 5mm.
• Any diagnosis of a psychiatric diagnosis determined to be primary.
• Are at a significant risk of harm to themselves or others.
• Have a substance or alcohol use disorder within the last three months.
• If participating in psychotherapy, must have been in stable treatment for at least three months prior to entry into the study, with no anticipation of change in the frequency of therapeutic sessions, or the therapeutic focus over the duration of the study.
• Are currently pregnant, breast feeding, or plan to become pregnant over the duration of the study.
• Active suicidal ideation as defined by a score of 4 ≥ on item 10 of MADRS
• Have failed a course of ECT in the current episode. Previous ECT treatment outside of the current episode does not influence inclusion.
• Have any significant neurological disorder or insult including, but not limited to: any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure, space occupying brain lesion, any history of epilepsy, cerebral aneurysm, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for greater than or equal to 5 minutes
• Have concomitant major unstable medical illness

Where it is running

• Foothills Medical Centre — Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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