This pilot study aims to investigate the efficacy of fMRI-targeted repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in treatment of major depression associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Half of patients will receive active treatment, while the other will receive a sham treatment with the option of receiving open-label active treatment afterwards.
rTMS is an FDA-approved treatment for major depressive disorder, but its utility has not yet been investigated for major depression associated with traumatic brain injury. This will be a prospective double-blind randomized sham-controlled crossover study. Patients in the treatment group will receive 20 sessions of high-frequency rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and low-frequency rTMS over the right DLPFC. The DLPFC will be identified as target by using individual subject-level resting state network estimation (Hacker et al, 2013). Patients in the control group will receive 20 sham treatments designed to be visibly indistinguishable from active treatment, and will subsequently have the option to be crossed over to receive active treatment with the aforementioned protocol. A subgroup of patients in each group will receive more detailed diffusion imaging (diffusion tensor and diffusion kurtosis imaging) and resting state fMRI scans before and after the treatment in order to assess for changes in white matter integrity and functional connectivity associated with the treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
15
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) will be applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (4000 pulses, 10 Hz, 5-sec trains, 25-sec inter-train interval) followed by the right DLPFC (1000 pulses, 1 Hz frequency, single train). The DLPFC will be identified using individual subject-level resting-state network estimation (Hacker et al, 2013). Each treatment will be completed over the course of 1 hour, and each subject will receive a total of 20 treatments over the course of 20 consecutive weekdays.
Treatment that looks and feels similar to active rTMS will be administered as a sham treatment.
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Improvement in depressive symptoms
This will be measured as the mean percentage change in baseline scores on Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) before treatment and immediately after the 4-week treatment period.
Time frame: Difference between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (4 weeks)
Changes in resting-state fMRI and DTI findings
MRI imaging will be conducted to assess resting-state functional connectivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). More detailed structural (DTI) and functional (fMRI) imaging will be measured in a subgroup of patients.
Time frame: Difference between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (4 weeks)
Changes in NIH Toolbox Cognitive, Emotional, and Quality of Life batteries
The NIH Toolbox Cognitive battery will be used to determine change in cognitive symptoms with treatment. Emotional battery and TBI-QoL scales will be used to determine change in general neuropsychiatric symptom burden.
Time frame: Difference between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (4 weeks)
Changes in temperament and character
Will administer the 140-question Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R140) before and after treatment.
Time frame: Difference between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (4 weeks)
Response and remission rates in depressive symptoms
Percentage of subjects achieving response (\>50% improvement in MADRS) and remission (final MADRS score \<7) before treatment and immediately after the 4-week treatment period.
Time frame: Difference between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (4 weeks)
Changes in headache scales
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Mean percentage improvement in HIT-6 headache scores
Time frame: Difference between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (4 weeks)
Changes in tinnitus score
Mean percentage improvement in tinnitus severity score and mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire scores
Time frame: Difference between pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment (4 weeks)