EEG-Triggered rTMS and Group Therapy for Adolescents With Depression and Self-Harm

The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University160 enrolled

Overview

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of real-time EEG-triggered repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with group therapy versus rTMS alone in adolescents (aged 12-18 years) diagnosed with depression and exhibiting recent self-harm behavior. The primary outcome is the change in depression severity at 4 weeks.

Adolescent depression is a prevalent and severe mood disorder, often comorbid with self-harm behavior, significantly impairing functioning. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique showing promise in depression treatment. Real-time EEG-triggered rTMS (rEEG-TMS) further refines this by synchronizing stimulation with individual neural rhythms, potentially enhancing precision and efficacy. Psychosocial interventions, such as group therapy, are crucial for adolescent mood disorders, offering peer support, emotional regulation skills, and cognitive restructuring. This study investigates whether combining rEEG-TMS with group therapy offers synergistic benefits over rEEG-TMS alone in adolescents with depression and self-harm. This was a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 160 inpatients aged 12-18 years with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (ICD-10 F32) and documented self-harm behavior within 2 weeks prior to enrollment were recruited. Participants were randomized 1:1 to either receive real-time EEG-triggered rTMS alone (control group, n=80) or real-time EEG-triggered rTMS plus group therapy (observation group, n=80). The rTMS intervention consisted of 20 sessions over 4 weeks (5 sessions/week), targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at 10 Hz, 110% of resting motor threshold, with 2000 pulses per session, triggered by the peak of the participant's ongoing θ-wave activity. The group therapy intervention, for the observation group, consisted of 8 semi-closed sessions (2 sessions/week for 4 weeks, 90 minutes/session) covering emotional recognition, cognitive restructuring, impulse control, and self-esteem building. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

160

Conditions

Depression

Interventions

Real-time EEG-triggered Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)DEVICE

Stimulation target: left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F3 electrode position, 10-20 EEG system); Frequency: 10 Hz; Intensity: 110% of resting motor threshold (RMT); Pulse number: 2000 pulses/session (20 trains of 100 pulses, 30-second inter-train interval); EEG triggering: Stimulation pulses synchronized to the peak of the participant's ongoing θ-wave (4-7 Hz) activity. Duration: 20 sessions over 4 weeks.

Group TherapyBEHAVIORAL

Semi-closed group therapy; 10 participants/group, 2 sessions/week, 90 minutes/session for 4 weeks (total 8 sessions). Content included: Sessions 1-2: Emotional recognition and expression training; Sessions 3-4: Cognitive restructuring; Sessions 5-6: Impulse control training; Sessions 7-8: Self-esteem building and future planning.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 12 YearsMax age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 12-18 years; * Diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10 F32); * Documented self-harm behavior within 2 weeks prior to enrollment (defined as deliberate self-injury without suicidal intent, e.g., cutting, burning); * Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) score ≥17 at baseline; * Ability to complete self-report measures and participate in group therapy. Exclusion Criteria: * Comorbid psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia), bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum disorder; * History of neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic brain injury); * Current use of electroconvulsive therapy; * Refusal to provide informed consent.

Locations (1)

The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University

Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) scores

The HAMD-24 is a clinician-rated scale to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depression. Change is calculated as score at week 4 minus score at baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and Week 4 (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA-14) scores

The HAMA-14 is a clinician-rated scale to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms. Higher scores indicate greater severity. Change is calculated as score at week 4 minus score at baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

Change in Suicide Probability Scale (SPS) scores

The SPS is a self-report measure assessing suicide risk. Scores range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating greater risk. Change is calculated as score at week 4 minus score at baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

Change in Modified Self-Harm Inventory (MSHI) scores

The MSHI assesses the frequency (0-4) and severity (0-4) of self-harm acts, with a total score ranging from 0-8. Higher scores indicate more severe self-harm behavior. Change is calculated as score at week 4 minus score at baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

Change in Event-Related Potential (ERP) P300 Latency

P300 latency (measured in milliseconds, ms) recorded during a visual Oddball paradigm at the Cz electrode. Shorter latency generally indicates faster cognitive processing speed. Change is calculated as value at week 4 minus value at baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

Change in Event-Related Potential (ERP) P300 Amplitude

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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