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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) · Interventional Study
ClinicalTrials.gov · August 19, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This is a registered interventional trial comparing MRI-targeted versus scalp-targeted accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation in Major Depressive Disorder. The study has not yet begun recruitment and no results are reported. The trial aims to establish whether the superior response rates reported for MRI-guided accelerated TMS (70–90% response) versus conventional TMS (50–55% response) are driven by imaging-based targeting or by treatment dose and schedule alone.
Interventional, Randomized, Parallel, Quadruple masking, Treatment purpose. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); age from 22 Years; to 80 Years. Intervention: Connectivity-based targeting; Scalp-based targeting. Compared with: Accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) with scalp-based measurement targeting (10 treatments per day for 5 days). n = 160. Brigham and Women's Hospital (lead sponsor); specific trial sites not identified in registry record..
Accelerated TMS with MRI-based targeting reports approximately 70–90% response rate (≥50% symptom improvement) Conventional scalp-targeted TMS reports approximately 50–55% response rate Study will randomize 160 participants to MRI- versus scalp-based accelerated TMS targeting
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
If this trial demonstrates that MRI-based targeting does not substantially improve accelerated TMS response over scalp-based targeting, it would support wider implementation of accelerated TMS in settings where MRI imaging is unavailable or impractical. Conversely, confirmation of MRI superiority would justify the added cost and complexity.
This is a clinical trial registry record with no posted results; the study is not yet recruiting and describes only the planned design and rationale.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
If this trial demonstrates that MRI-based targeting does not substantially improve accelerated TMS response over scalp-based targeting, it would support wider implementation of accelerated TMS in settings where MRI imaging is unavailable or impractical. Conversely, confirmation of MRI superiority would justify the added cost and complexity.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Registry record from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07043738). This is a study registration, not published results. Lead sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital. Recruitment status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING. Phase: NA. Study type: INTERVENTIONAL. Enrollment: 160 participants (ESTIMATED). Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Interventions: PROCEDURE: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Primary outcome measures: Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) , Baseline to one month post treatment. Brief summary: Transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that is cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for depression. Conventional TMS involves daily weekday treatments for 6-8 weeks. These treatments are targeted using each person's scalp measurements. With conventional TMS, approximately 50-55% of people show a 50% or more improvement in depressive symptoms (in other words, they "respond" to treatment). Studies are trying to make TMS work better and faster. A new form of TMS called accelerated TMS (aTMS) involves mutliple treatments a day. One specific aTMS protocol involves 10 treatments per day for 5 days. These treatments are targeted using each person's brain scan (magentic resonance imaging, MRI). With this specific aTMS protocol, approximately 70-90% of people show a 50% or more imporvement in depressive symptoms. While these results are exciting, scientists are not sure why this specific aTMS protocol works better than conventional TMS. It could be the dose and schedule of treatment, or it could be the MRI-based targeting. Answering this question is important because MRI-based targeting is expensive and difficult to do in many settings. This study aims to determine if MRI-based targeting is better than scalp-based targeting for aTMS for depression. In this study, everyone who enrolls and meets criteria will be randomly assigned to MRI- versus scalp-based aTMS targeting.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.