Assessing an EEG Biomarker of Response to TMS for Major Depression

Description

Veterans with treatment resistant depression (TRD) have the opportunity to receive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment via the VA's National TMS Clinical Pilot Program. While some see improvement with their depression, others do not. Therefore, it may be beneficial to be able to predict with biomarkers what participants may see improvement with their treatment. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a means to identify such biomarkers. Four hundred Veterans with TRD will be enrolled in this trial to determine whether neuroimaging biomarkers of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be prospectively replicated in a large ecologically valid sample. Participants will have a total of EEG scans at baseline, every 5th treatment session, and at the end of treatment for a total of 7 EEG scans.

Conditions

Depression

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Veterans with treatment resistant depression (TRD) have the opportunity to receive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment via the VA's National TMS Clinical Pilot Program. While some see improvement with their depression, others do not. Therefore, it may be beneficial to be able to predict with biomarkers what participants may see improvement with their treatment. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a means to identify such biomarkers. Four hundred Veterans with TRD will be enrolled in this trial to determine whether neuroimaging biomarkers of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be prospectively replicated in a large ecologically valid sample. Participants will have a total of EEG scans at baseline, every 5th treatment session, and at the end of treatment for a total of 7 EEG scans.

Assessing an Electroencephalography (EEG) Biomarker of Response to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Major Depression

Assessing an EEG Biomarker of Response to TMS for Major Depression

Condition
Depression
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

White River Junction

White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, White River Junction, Vermont, United States, 05001-3833

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Veterans participating in the VA TMS Pilot Program age 18 years or older
  • * Able to provide written informed consent to participate in the EEG portion of this study and to allow linking such data to data collected as part of the TMS Pilot Program
  • * Diagnosis of MDD based on DSM-5 criteria and be currently depressed despite prior treatment with at least one adequate antidepressant treatment
  • * Receiving stable doses of psychiatric medications (no dose changes for \>4 weeks prior to study entry), in stable psychotherapy, or receiving no psychiatric medications and/or psychotherapy
  • * History of seizure disorder
  • * Known structural or neurologic abnormalities present or close to the treatment site that would increase risk of seizure
  • * History of brain surgery
  • * History of recent traumatic brain injury (within 6 months) or any history of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
  • * Clinical evidence of severe or uncontrolled alcohol or substance use disorders within three months
  • * Active withdrawal from alcohol or other substances of abuse
  • * Implanted metal device in the head that would increase the risk of TMS
  • * Metal in the head that would increase the risk of TMS
  • * Current psychosis

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Paul Holtzheimer, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT

Study Record Dates

2026-09-30