The purpose of this study is to determine if repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a method of noninvasive brain stimulation) is effective in the treatment of the motor (movement) and mood symptoms due to Parkinson's disease (PD).
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive means of brain stimulation which can produce changes to brain excitability. Following a series of daily rTMS sessions, this modulation of neural circuits and other distant effects may help some of the motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms of PD for months at a time. Recently, the FDA approved daily rTMS over the prefrontal cortex as a treatment for medication-refractory depression after demonstration of efficacy in sham-controlled trials and its safety profile. Among several small and pilot studies of rTMS in PD patients, rTMS over either the motor cortex or prefrontal cortex has been reported to show beneficial effects on motor and mood (depression) symptoms with no serious adverse events. However, the relative effectiveness of rTMS over motor, prefrontal, or both regions on both mood and motor symptoms, has yet to be established in PD patients. We propose to conduct a four-center, blinded, sham-controlled, randomized, parallel-group study of fixed-dose, high-frequency rTMS in 160 PD patients who are experiencing depressive symptoms despite an adequate trial of at least one antidepressant. Subjects will be randomized to receive rTMS over either motor cortex, prefrontal cortex, both, or neither (sham-rTMS). Subjects will receive rTMS for 25 minutes over either the prefrontal cortex (the brain region associated with mood and depression), and/or primary motor cortex (associated with motor control), and/or sham-rTMS. After 10 days of rTMS (or sham) treatment over a 2-week period, all subjects will undergo a comprehensive assessment of motor, mood, cognition and quality of life on the first working day after the last rTMS treatment, and after 1, 3 and 6 months post-treatment. This study directly addresses the expansion of rTMS as an alternative treatment for depression in the PD population and will provide evidence as to whether motor cortex stimulation will provide additional and/or separate benefit to motor symptoms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
61
DLPFC Active rTMS: Each treatment will consist of 2000 stimuli (50 X 4-second trains of 40 stimuli at 10 Hz, administered every 30 seconds for 25 minutes). Stimulus intensity for the first and second trains will be 80 and 90 percent of motor evoked potential (MEP), respectively. If no adverse effects are observed following each of the first two trains, then the subsequent trains will be given at MEP threshold. M1 Active rTMS: Stimulation will be applied one side at a time, to the motor cortex site at 90 percent of each subject's motor threshold intensity, and at a frequency of 10 Hz with 1000 stimuli per side (25 X 8-second trains of 40 stimuli). Sham rTMS: Patients from all four centers randomized to receive sham treatment will undergo the same procedures used in patients receiving active rTMS.
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
The Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Motor Subscale of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS Part III)
To evaluate the motor symptoms in Parkinson's Disease. The UPDRS-III mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The UPDRS-III Score Range is 0 - 56, where higher the score indicates greater severity of the motor symptoms.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D)
To evaluate the depressive mood symptoms in PD. The HAM-D mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The HAM-D Score Range is 0 - 56, where higher the score indicates greater severity of depressive mood symptoms.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
Clinical Anxiety Scale (CAS)
To evaluate anxiety in Parkinson's Disease. The CAS mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The CAS Score Range is 0 - 100, where higher the score indicates greater severity of the anxiety symptoms.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES)
To evaluate apathy in Parkinson's Disease. The AES mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The AES Score Range is 0-42, where higher the score indicates greater severity of the apathy symptoms.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire 39 (PDQ-39)
To assess the quality of life (QOL) in Parkinson's Disease. The PDQ-39 mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The PDQ-39 Score Range is 0 - 156, where higher the score indicates greater impact on quality of life.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
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Oregon Health and Science University
Portland, Oregon, United States
University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
To screen and follow cognitive function in Parkinson's Disease. The MoCA mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The MoCA Score Range is 0 - 30, where 26-30 indicates normal cognition.
Time frame: pre-treatment; 0,1,3, and 6 months post-treatment
Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Parts I, II, and IV
To assess apathy, cognition, depression, activities of daily living (ADL), quality of life (QOL), and motor symptoms in Parkinson's Disease. The UPDRS I, II, IV total mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The UPDRS I, II, IV scores were added together for each patient, with a total score range of 0 - 91, where higher the score indicates greater severity of the symptoms.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
To assess mood symptoms in Parkinson's Disease. The BDI-II mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The BDI-II Score Range is 0 - 63, where higher the score indicates greater severity of the mood symptoms.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
Global Impression Scales
To assess symptom severity and treatment response in Parkinson's Disease. The CGI mean scores were reported for each group at each time point. The CGI Score Range is 1 - 8, where higher the score indicates greater severity of illness or worsening of illness.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; Post-treatment 0,1,3, and 6 months.
The Number All Types of Adverse Events.
To establish the safety and tolerability of rTMS in Parkinson's Disease.
Time frame: Baseline through Month 6