Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Unipolar Major Depression

Hospital do Coracao50 enrolled

Overview

Double Blinded Randomized Trial of eTNS as adjuvant treatment for Major Unipolar Depressive Disorder. The primary objective is to assess the safety and tolerability of eTNS (external trigeminal nerve stimulation) of the V1 branch of the trigeminal nerve as an adjunctive treatment for adult patients with the diagnosis of unipolar MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Depression

Interventions

Stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (active stimulation)PROCEDURE

Participants will be randomized to active vs. sham stimulation during a period of 24 weeks with a one-way cross over at 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the participants receiving active electrical stimulation will continue under active stimulation until completion of the study. Participants randomized to sham stimulation will be shifted to active stimulation and will be followed-up until completion of the study. The study will be unblinded after 6 months of randomized stimulation. The second part of the study will be an open label prospective trial for evaluate long-term follow-up. The duration of the open label trial will be more 24 weeks. the duration of the open label trial will be more 24 weeks.

Placebo stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (placebo)PROCEDURE

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Outpatients with non-psychotic, unipolar Major Depressive Disorder assessed via the MINI structured interview and legally capacitated to sign the informed consent for participation in the study; * A score of ≥ 14 on the HAM-D17 with Item 1 (depressed mood) ≥ 2; * A history of treatment failure with at least 3 adequate trials antidepressants over the previous 6 weeks and less than 6 medications, with no change in antidepressant medication or dose within the previous 6 weeks, and ongoing use of at least one antidepressant (which will continue during participation in the study); * Patients with suicidal ideation are eligible only if the thoughts of death or of life not being worth living are not accompanied by a plan or intention for self-harm and lack of self-harming attempt in the past 6 months; * Patients with appropriate support to be compliant with the study protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Patient is mentally or legally incapacitated, unable to give informed consent; * Patients with psychosis (psychotic depression, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective diagnoses (lifetime); bipolar disorder (lifetime); dementia (lifetime); delirium or any substance abuse disorder within the past 6 months; eating disorder within the past year; obsessive-compulsive disorder (lifetime); post-traumatic stress disorder within the past year; acute risk for suicide or self-injurious behavior. Patients with diagnostic uncertainty or ambiguity (e.g. rule-out pseudo-dementia of depression) will be excluded; * Patients currently receiving more than six medications for treatment of MDD; * Patients with exposure to ECT or rTMS or any investigational treatment (for any disorder) within the past 6 months; * Prior VNS and/or DBS therapy (lifetime); * Past history of skull fracture; cranial surgery entering the calvarium; space occupying intracranial lesion; stroke, CVA, or TIAs; cerebral aneurysm; Parkinson's or Huntington's disease; or Multiple Sclerosis. * Current pregnancy, breast feeding, plans to become pregnant during the study, or not using a medically accepted means of contraception; * Other medical conditions that would increase the risk of infection or surgical related morbidity and/or would affect compliance with the study protocol.

Locations (1)

Hospital do Coracao

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Identify a efficacy of eTNS of the V1 branch of the trigeminal nerve

We will use the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) 17 scores as the main outcome measure to assess the efficacy of sTNS of the V1 branch of the trigeminal nerve as adjunctive treatment for MDD.

Time frame: 48 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Identify the tolerability of eTNS stimulation

Tolerability will be evaluated by the records of adverse effects observed during the randomized, open stimulation. We will apply the Ugvalg for Kliniske Undersgelser (UKU) scale at all visits for all patients and to compare scores between groups. Adverse events will be categorized using the MedDRA Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. Complications reported by active and sham stimulation groups will be compared. The complication risk will be calculated based on the overall study duration.

Time frame: 48 weeks

Identify the long-term recurrence rate of eTNS therapy

We will calculate the recurrence rate of all participants at the end of the open label prospective follow-up. Recurrence is defined as return of HAM-17 scores equal to or superior to the original, after the patient has lodged during partial response (20% decrease of the initial score) or complete response (50% decrease of the initial score).

Time frame: 48 weeks

Identify the duration of the placebo effect

To evaluate the duration of the placebo effect in participants randomized to sham stimulation during the initial 12 weeks of the trial. The mean, median and the standard deviation of the interval time to recurrence will be calculated on placebo stimulation.

Time frame: 48 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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