RecruitingNot applicable

Closed-Loop Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Closed-Loop Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Double-Blind, Controlled Randomized Multicenter Clinical Trial

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
22 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests whether a device called closed-loop tACS can reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder. The device uses electrical stimulation on the head. The study is for adults age 22 or older who have depression and have tried an antidepressant without enough relief or could not tolerate its side effects.

The purpose of this research study is to investigate a closed-loop transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) device to evaluate its ability to reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Age 22 or older, with a current episode of depression and at least moderate symptoms (a HAM-D17 depression score of 17 or higher).
  • Have tried at least one antidepressant during this or an earlier episode, without enough relief or with side effects you could not tolerate.
  • For at least 6 weeks, have taken no antidepressants or have kept your mental health medicines and antidepressant doses stable. If taking medicines, agree to keep them the same during the study.
  • If getting talk therapy for depression, have kept the same visit schedule for at least 8 weeks and agree to keep it during the study.
  • Understand English, can give written consent, and are willing and able to follow the study rules and visit schedule.
  • Are being treated for depression by a mental health clinician or primary care doctor, and agree to promptly report any change in mental health providers.
  • Allow study staff to communicate with your current healthcare providers and those who treated you within the past 2 years.
  • Give names and checkable contact details for at least two adults who live within a 60-minute drive of your home. Allow staff to contact them as needed for your safety.

Who can't join

  • Have used brain or head-nerve stimulation for depression within the past 6 months; ever had an adequate course of ECT, TMS, or implanted vagus nerve stimulation that did not help; currently receive ketamine, esketamine, or psilocybin; or had no response to at least 3 adequate trials of FDA-approved antidepressants during this episode.
  • Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or able to become pregnant but not using birth control the study doctor considers adequate; or your current depression episode began within 6 months after childbirth.
  • Have suicidal thoughts with a plan or intent now, or have acted on or prepared for suicide within the past 3 months.
  • Have epilepsy or unexplained seizures; past surgery inside the skull; implanted nerve stimulators, other implanted or nonremovable electrical devices, or metal inside the skull other than dental metal.
  • Have bipolar disorder, mania or hypomania (unusually high or irritable mood and energy), psychosis (trouble knowing what is real), or current obsessive-compulsive disorder (unwanted repeated thoughts or actions).
  • Have had a moderate or severe alcohol or other substance use disorder within the past 6 months, except tobacco or nicotine. Cannabis use alone does not rule you out unless it meets this level.
  • Have a forehead skin problem that electrodes could worsen; memory or thinking problems that could prevent following study rules; a brain or nerve disease that could make depression hard to assess; or other features the study doctor considers unsuitable.
  • Are in, or plan to join within the next 3 months, another study of an experimental drug or device that the study doctor thinks could affect depression symptoms or use of this device.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. ≥ 22 years of age; 2. with at least moderate symptom severity (HAM-D17 ≥ 17); 3. who are currently in a depressive episode; 4. who have used at least 1 antidepressant in the current or previous episode, but have not found adequate symptom relief or who were not able to tolerate medication side effects; 5. who, for 6 weeks prior to enrollment, are either; * not taking antidepressant medication, or: * are taking a stable psychiatric medication regimen with one or more stable antidepressant medication dose(s) and agree to continue the same regimen throughout study participation 6. if currently engaged in depression-focused psychotherapy, have maintained stable frequency of therapy for at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment and agree to continue the same regimen throughout study participation; 7. are able and willing to comply with the protocol and follow up schedule and protocol, in the opinion of the investigator; 8. who understand English and are able to provide written informed consent; 9. who are currently under the care of a psychiatric clinician or a primary care physician for major depressive disorder, and who agree to promptly inform the study staff of any change of psychiatric or mental health providers during study participation; 10. who agree to allow any and all forms of communication between the investigators/study staff and their current or past (within 2 years) healthcare providers; 11. who agree to provide the names and verifiable contact information (email and mailing addresses, mobile and/or land-line phone numbers, as applicable) for at least two persons (≥ age 18) who reside within a 60-minute drive of their residence and whom the research staff are at liberty to contact, as they deem necessary, to ensure participant safety for the duration of study participation; Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects with current / past six months use of an external stimulation device for MDD, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), or other brain or cranial nerve stimulation; 2. Subjects with (lifetime) history of failure to response to an adequate trial of ECT, TMS, or implanted vagus nerve stimulation; 3. Subjects who currently receive esketamine, ketamine, or psilocybin treatment 4. Subjects who are pregnant or of childbearing potential and not using adequate contraception, as determined by the investigator; 5. Subjects who are breastfeeding. 6. Subjects whose current depressive episode had onset within 6 months post-partum; 7. Presence of active skin disorder on the forehead that could be exacerbated by stimulation electrodes in the opinion of the investigator. 8. Subjects with clinical or historical features which, in the opinion of the investigator, make them an inappropriate candidate for participation in this trial; 9. Subjects whose current depressive episode has not responded to 3 or more adequate trials of FDA approved antidepressant medications; 10. Subjects with current suicidal ideation with plan or intent, or suicidal behavior or preparation in the past 3 months, as determined by CSSRS assessment or by the Investigator; 11. Subjects with a diagnosis of epilepsy or unexplained seizures; 12. Subjects with a diagnosis or clinical history suggestive of bipolar disorder, hypomania, mania, or psychosis, as determined by the Investigator and/or by the DIAMOND assessment. 13. Subjects currently participating, or intending to participate (during the next 3 months) in another study involving an investigational drug or device treatment that, in the opinion of the investigator, could impact symptoms of MDD or use of the investigational device; 14. Subjects with a history of intracranial surgery; 15. Subjects with implanted neurostimulators, nonremovable or implanted electrical devices or intracranial metal objects, with the exception of dental metal; 16. Subjects with cognitive impairment or memory disorders, which, in the opinion of the investigator, could impact their ability to comply with study requirements; 17. Subjects currently meeting diagnostic criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder determined by the Investigator and/or by the DIAMOND assessment; 18. Subjects who meet DSM-V criteria for moderate/severe alcohol use disorder or other substance use disorders (except tobacco/nicotine) within the past 6 months as confirmed by the DIAMOND interview; 19. Subjects who meet DSM-V criteria for moderate/severe cannabis use disorder (CUD) within the past 6 months as confirmed by the DIAMOND interview. Subjects with recreational or prescription use (including medical marijuana cards) not considered moderate to severe CUD will be included. 20. Subjects with a current neurological condition or disease which, in the opinion of the investigator, is likely to manifest a depressive syndrome or symptoms that would substantially confound the diagnosis or serial assessment of major depressive disorder.

Study sites (1)

NC