The overall objective of this current study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of "high dose" aiTBS in psychiatric inpatient and outpatients with treatment-refractory unipolar, non-psychotic major depressive disorder, using patients receiving ECT as an active comparator. Developing a better understanding of the feasibility and tolerability of adapting this treatment to an acutely ill patient population could lead to huge breakthroughs for clinician decision-making and for the further optimization of brain stimulation depression protocols. The results of this study can help guide future confirmatory efficacy trials of high-dose aiTBS by providing a better understanding of how feasibility, safety and tolerability compare to ECT, as well as unforeseen challenges of its use.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
50
High-dose intermittent theta burst administered at a treatment frequency 10x per day, with each treatment session duration 3x standard TMS (1800 pulses). Delivering 50 sessions in 5 days.
ECT as per standard clinical care and management.
Retention rate at completion of aiTBS vs the ECT group
The primary tolerability endpoint is the proportion of aiTBS or ECT patients completing the protocol to a degree thought to be satisfactory for achieving the intended antidepressant effect. Completion for aiTBS arm is defined as completion of at least 60% of the treatment protocol (30 of 50 treatments) with treatments on at least 60% of days (3 of 5 days during the week). Completion for ECT arm is defined as completion of at least 2 of 3 ECT treatments during the first week.
Time frame: 5 days
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