Regulated Stimulation for Optimized Network Activity and Therapeutic Equilibrium
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 to 85 Years
- 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 the Motif XCS System, a device that stimulates the brain, for depression that has not improved with treatment. It looks at safety, how well people tolerate it, and early signs that it helps. It is for adults ages 22–85 whose depression has not had lasting improvement with at least two antidepressant treatments.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of the Motif eXternally powered Cortical Stimulation (XCS) System when used as indicated for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Who can join
- Are 22–85 years old.
- Have major depression now, without bipolar disorder or psychosis (losing touch with reality).
- Score at least 20 on the MADRS, a scale that measures depression symptoms.
- Have tried at least two antidepressant treatments from two different drug groups at adequate doses, without lasting improvement during at least one period of depression.
- Can give written consent and follow study rules, including follow-up visits.
- Have kept mental health treatment steady for 30 days before the screening depression score and agree to keep it steady through the week 4 visit.
- Still meet all study rules before the implant is placed, with mental health treatment unchanged.
- Have skull thickness of 5.5–15.5 millimeters where the implant will be placed.
Who can't join
- Have an implant in the skull (except dental implants), a nerve or spinal cord stimulator, a medicine pump, or an implanted heart device. Also excluded: planned MRI scans within 12 months after implantation, or inability to have required brain scans.
- Have an unsafe risk from surgery or treatment; cannot stop blood thinners; or have bone or skin problems that affect safe device placement or use.
- Have used ketamine or esketamine in the past 30 days, or plan to before week 4. Also excluded: recent use of drugs that cause hallucinations or a feeling of being detached, or planned use for mood or anxiety before week 4.
- Have a history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or another disorder involving loss of touch with reality; or have these symptoms with current depression.
- Have a serious long-term brain or nerve disorder, brain scan findings that may affect treatment, a brain injury causing ongoing thinking problems, or take medicine that raises seizure risk.
- Have never had at least a 50% drop in depression symptoms after completed, approved courses of ECT (electrical treatment) or TMS (magnetic treatment). Also excluded: plans for other nerve or brain stimulation during the study.
- Have had an alcohol or drug use disorder in the past 12 months, except tobacco or nicotine; use illegal drugs that may affect treatment; or are judged to be at immediate risk of suicide.
- Are pregnant, plan pregnancy during the study, or are unwilling to use effective birth control; are expected to live less than 12 months; or have another condition that makes safety checks or follow-up visits difficult.
Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Has a diagnosis of unipolar non-psychotic Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and is currently experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE) as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) 2. Has a screening Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of ≥20 3. Has not had a sustained response to 2 or more adequately dosed antidepressant treatments from at least 2 different antidepressant treatment classes in at least one episode of major depressive disorder, according to the Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF) 4. Is willing and able to provide written informed consent 5. Is 22-85 years of age 6. Is willing and able to comply with the protocol, including follow-up visits 7. Has been on a stable psychiatric treatment regimen for 30 days before the study screening MADRS and is willing to maintain a stable psychiatric treatment regimen through the Week 4 follow-up visit Exclusion Criteria: 1. Has a cranial implant (with the exception of dental implants), neurostimulator, implanted medication pump, spinal cord stimulator, or pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator 2. Has knowledge of planned magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) in the next 12 months, after implant 3. Is unable to undergo imaging with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) 4. In the opinion of the investigator, the implant and therapy pose an unacceptable surgical or medical risk to the patient 5. Is currently taking blood thinners and cannot be taken off blood thinners 6. Has taken ketamine or esketamine in the past 30 days or is planning on taking ketamine or esketamine before the 4-week follow-up visit 7. Has taken hallucinogenic or dissociative medications in the past 30 days or is planning on taking hallucinogenic or dissociative medications for the treatment of mood or anxiety disorders before the 4-week follow-up visit 8. Has a history of bipolar disorder 9. Has a history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or other psychotic disorder 10. Has psychotic features in the current depressive episode 11. Has a chronic and clinically significant neurological disorder (epilepsy, dementia, delirium, amnestic disorder, brain tumor), or neuroimaging findings that would potentially impact the efficacy of treatment (e.g., extensive white matter disease, demyelinating lesions, atrophy, brain tumor) 12. Currently taking medication that would alter the seizure threshold, increasing potential seizure risks 13. Has a history of brain injury that resulted in current cognitive impairment 14. Has a history of bony disorders that impact the safe and effective use of the device as well as device implantation 15. Has a history of skin disorders that impact the safe and effective use of the device as well as device implantation 16. Has failed all attempts to achieve at least 50% reduction in depressive symptoms after completion of approved treatment courses of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment of MDD 17. Is planning to receive any other neuromodulation therapy during the study 18. Meets the DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder or other substance use disorder (not including tobacco/nicotine) within 12 months prior to study enrollment or, in the opinion of the investigator, is using illicit drugs recreationally or therapeutically which could impact the safety or effectiveness of the therapy 19. Female who is pregnant at the time of inclusion, or planning to become pregnant during the duration of the study, or not willing to use an effective method of birth control 20. Has a life expectancy less than 12 months 21. In the opinion of the investigator, is considered to be acutely suicidal (e.g., Type 4 or 5 on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale \[C-SSRS\]) 22. In the investigator's opinion, any known comorbidity that would complicate the assessment of safety or prevent participation in follow-up visits Before implantation of the Motif Digitally Programmable Over-Brain Therapeutic (DOT) Implant, subjects must continue to meet all study eligibility criteria. Subjects must also meet the following additional criteria: 1. Psychiatric treatment regimen has remained stable 2. Has skull thickness ≥5.5 mm and ≤15.5 mm over the implant target
Study sites (3)
GA
- Emory Healthcare · Atlanta, GA 30322Sinead Quinn · Study contact · 404-727-9228 · scquinn@emory.eduMore trials in Atlanta
IA
- University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA 52242Karin Nielsen · Study contact · 319-384-6521 · karin-nielsen@uiowa.eduMore trials in Iowa City
TX
- Brain Health Consultants and TMS Center · Houston, TX 77046Holly Lee · Study contact · (713) 489-5000 · hzl@brainhealthconsultants.comMore trials in Houston