Meditation Accelerated Brain Stimulation for Depression (NCT04586699)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Repetitive Transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an FDA-approved treatment for depression that involves brief magnetic stimulation pulses on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) brain region. The ultimate goal of this treatment is to increase excitability and long-term plasticity in DLPFC, a brain region shown to be hypo-active in depression. Unfortunately, rTMS only has low to moderate efficacy; remission rates for patients range from \~15-30% in large randomized controlled trials. The focus of this research is to develop a next-generation rTMS protocol that is guided by the basic principles underlying brain plasticity, in order to improve the efficacy of rTMS for the treatment of depression. Specifically, in this study the investigators will test rTMS paired with a depression-relevant cognitive state of internal attention.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (2 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (5 items).
Location: Neuromodulation Clinic Veterans Affairs San Diego — San Diego, California
Age range: 18 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- active substance abuse/dependence
- psychotic disorders
- any factor that increases risk of TMS (metal implants/history of stroke/seizure disorder).
- displaying acutely suicidal behaviors on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- Neuromodulation Clinic Veterans Affairs San Diego — San Diego, California
- UC San Diego Health Psychiatry — San Diego, California
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Depression
- To Improve Depressive Symptoms Using a Web-App — Austin, Texas
- Pilot Randomized Trial of BA-GSH in VA PC-MHI — Houston, Texas
- Neurocardiac Predictors of Treatment Response to RTMS in Depression — Vancouver, British Columbia
- Neural Circuit Biomarkers of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study — Stanford, California
- Cognition and Behavior With Sham Accelerated TMS — Sacramento, California
Explore by condition: All Depression clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Review the official NIH record below to find the coordinating site.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.