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Brain Stimulation

Theta Burst Stimulation for Bipolar Disorder

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Fabio Ferrarelli, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by Mary Phillips, MD MD (Cantab)
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
No family history of BD
Not in a current depressive episode
Must not have
<18 years of age or >35 year of age
In current depressive episode
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up change in magnitude immediately before and immediately after each ctbs condition at scan visits (30-60 mins)
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will study the effects of transcranial brain stimulation on brain activity and emotions in adults with and without bipolar disorder, in order to better understand the predisposing brain mechanisms of bipolar disorder.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults aged 18-35 with Bipolar Disorder I/II in remission or mild-moderate hypomania. They must score low on depression and mania scales, can be unmedicated or on certain stable medications (excluding antidepressant monotherapy), and have no severe psychiatric disorders, substance abuse issues, head injuries, neurological diseases, or family history of epilepsy.
What is being tested?
The study tests the effects of Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS) on brain activity and emotions in people with Bipolar Disorder. It compares Continuous TBS (cTBS), which is an active treatment, to a sham version that mimics the procedure without real stimulation to see if cTBS reduces symptoms like negative emotions.
What are the potential side effects?
While not explicitly listed in the provided information, common side effects of TBS may include headache, scalp discomfort at the stimulation site during treatment sessions, lightheadedness immediately following treatment sessions, and rare risk of seizure.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My family does not have a history of bipolar disorder.
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I am not currently experiencing a depressive episode.
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I am between 18 and 35 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I am either younger than 18 or older than 35.
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I am currently experiencing a depressive episode.
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My diagnosis is not bipolar I or II disorder.
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I am not taking SNRI antidepressants or bupropion.
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I am not taking any psychotropic medications not allowed in the study.
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I have been diagnosed with depression and scored 8 or higher on a depression scale.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~change in magnitude immediately before and immediately after each ctbs condition at scan visits (30-60 mins)
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and change in magnitude immediately before and immediately after each ctbs condition at scan visits (30-60 mins) for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Reward expectancy-related left amygdala activity
Reward expectancy-related left orbitofrontal cortex activity
Reward expectancy-related left ventral striatum activity
+16 more
Secondary study objectives
Left amygdala activity
Left orbitofrontal cortex activity
Left ventral lateral prefrontal cortex-wholebrain functional connectivity
+13 more
Other study objectives
Left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex-left amygdala resting state functional connectivity
Left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex-left orbitofrontal cortex resting state functional connectivity
Left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex-left ventral striatum resting state functional connectivity
+7 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

6Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Left vlPFC/Left vlPFC sham/Left SSExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
A random number sequence will be generated for randomization of the 3 cTBS scan session order to which each participant is assigned: * left vlPFC cTBS (cTBS applied to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) * left SS cTBS (cTBS applied to the left somatosensory area) * left vlPFC sham TBS (go through the motions of applying cTBS to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex but very low current is administered so that the participant feels like cTBS is being administered even though the current is too low to stimulate brain cells) Participants will know that one session will be a sham, but they will be blinded to which session is the sham.
Group II: Left vlPFC sham/Left vlPFC/Left SSExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
A random number sequence will be generated for randomization of the 3 cTBS scan session order to which each participant is assigned: * left vlPFC cTBS (cTBS applied to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) * left SS cTBS (cTBS applied to the left somatosensory area) * left vlPFC sham TBS (go through the motions of applying cTBS to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex but very low current is administered so that the participant feels like cTBS is being administered even though the current is too low to stimulate brain cells) Participants will know that one session will be a sham, but they will be blinded to which session is the sham.
Group III: Left vlPFC sham/Left SS/Left vlPFCExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
A random number sequence will be generated for randomization of the 3 cTBS scan session order to which each participant is assigned: * left vlPFC cTBS (cTBS applied to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) * left SS cTBS (cTBS applied to the left somatosensory area) * left vlPFC sham TBS (go through the motions of applying cTBS to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex but very low current is administered so that the participant feels like cTBS is being administered even though the current is too low to stimulate brain cells) Participants will know that one session will be a sham, but they will be blinded to which session is the sham.
Group IV: Left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC)/Left SS/Left vlPFC shamExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
A random number sequence will be generated for randomization of the 3 cTBS scan session order to which each participant is assigned: * left vlPFC cTBS (cTBS applied to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) * left SS cTBS (cTBS applied to the left somatosensory area) * left vlPFC sham TBS (go through the motions of applying cTBS to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex but very low current is administered so that the participant feels like cTBS is being administered even though the current is too low to stimulate brain cells) Participants will know that one session will be a sham, but they will be blinded to which session is the sham.
Group V: Left SS/Left vlPFC/Left vlPFC shamExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
A random number sequence will be generated for randomization of the 3 cTBS scan session order to which each participant is assigned: * left vlPFC cTBS (cTBS applied to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) * left SS cTBS (cTBS applied to the left somatosensory area) * left vlPFC sham TBS (go through the motions of applying cTBS to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex but very low current is administered so that the participant feels like cTBS is being administered even though the current is too low to stimulate brain cells) Participants will know that one session will be a sham, but they will be blinded to which session is the sham.
Group VI: Left SS/Left vlPFC sham/Left vlPFCExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
A random number sequence will be generated for randomization of the 3 cTBS scan session order to which each participant is assigned: * left vlPFC cTBS (cTBS applied to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) * left SS cTBS (cTBS applied to the left somatosensory area) * left vlPFC sham TBS (go through the motions of applying cTBS to the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex but very low current is administered so that the participant feels like cTBS is being administered even though the current is too low to stimulate brain cells) Participants will know that one session will be a sham, but they will be blinded to which session is the sham.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS)
2020
N/A
~70

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Mary Phillips, MD MD (Cantab)Lead Sponsor
3 Previous Clinical Trials
49 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Bipolar Disorder
13 Patients Enrolled for Bipolar Disorder
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)NIH
2,905 Previous Clinical Trials
2,738,663 Total Patients Enrolled
147 Trials studying Bipolar Disorder
64,120 Patients Enrolled for Bipolar Disorder
Fabio Ferrarelli, MD, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Pittsburgh
3 Previous Clinical Trials
93 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Bipolar Disorder
13 Patients Enrolled for Bipolar Disorder

Media Library

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS) (Brain Stimulation) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04696471 — N/A
Bipolar Disorder Research Study Groups: Left SS/Left vlPFC/Left vlPFC sham, Left SS/Left vlPFC sham/Left vlPFC, Left vlPFC sham/Left vlPFC/Left SS, Left vlPFC/Left vlPFC sham/Left SS, Left vlPFC sham/Left SS/Left vlPFC, Left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC)/Left SS/Left vlPFC sham
Bipolar Disorder Clinical Trial 2023: Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS) Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04696471 — N/A
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS) (Brain Stimulation) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04696471 — N/A
~26 spots leftby Sep 2025