Rapid Antidepressant Dynamics in Acute Neuromodulation Treatments
Marta Peciña, MD PhD
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how different types of non-invasive brain stimulation affect mood and brain function in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). It will also study how brain stimulation may work together with antidepressant treatments. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How do different patterns of brain stimulation affect mood in people with depression? Do brain networks involved in emotion and self-reflection respond differently depending on the type of stimulation? What are the combined effects of brain stimulation and antidepressant treatments on mood and brain activity? Researchers will compare different brain stimulation patterns and target areas to understand their individual and combined effects. Participants will: Receive three types of brain stimulation (intermittent, continuous, and sham) in different sessions Undergo MRI scans during the administration of either a fast-acting or conventional antidepressant. Complete mood assessments during the scan and for one week after each session This study may help identify brain-based strategies to improve treatment for depression. In addition, a subset of participants (\~10) will complete a reward-guided decision-making fMRI task for feasibility purposes.
Description
This mechanistic clinical trial will investigate the role of large-scale brain networks in modulating mood responses in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) using non-invasive neuromodulation and neuroimaging. The study will focus on the salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), and functional connectivity (FC) between them, given prior evidence linking these systems to mood regulation and antidepressant response. Using a 2x3 factorial design, 200 participants with MDD will be randomized to receive theta burst stimulation (TBS) targeting either the SN or the DMN (between-subje…