Borderline Personality DisorderNCT07223619
PILOT Phase: BPD Study
A study testing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in people with Borderline Personality Disorder, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This pilot study aims to identify the area of the brain best suited for the treatment of Borderline Personality disorder (BPD). The study investigators will test whether repetitiveTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a gentle non-invasive brain stimulation method, can improve regulation of emotions and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 5 Jan 2024to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age of 18-65
- DSM-5 Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) based upon a psychiatric evaluation and ZAN-BPD scale
- Fluent English speaker
- Ability to give informed consent
Who cannot join
- Medical conditions that prevent TMS or MRI to be performed safely upon evaluation by the study psychiatrist
- Active alcohol or drug abuse of such severity that it would pose a risk for TMS administration (i.e., unstable motor thresholds or increased risk for seizure)
- Active suicidal plan
- Current diagnosis of Psychotic or Bipolar disorders
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Semel Institute/ UCLA TMS
Los Angeles, California, 90024
About this study
Official title: PILOT Study: Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder by Targeting Ventrolateral Prefrontal-amygdala Circuit With Network-based Neuronavigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
This pilot study aims to identify the area of the brain best suited for the treatment of Borderline Personality disorder (BPD). The study investigators will test whether repetitiveTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a gentle non-invasive brain stimulation method, can improve regulation of emotions and impulsivity in individuals with BPD.
This study will enroll up to 20 participants. Participant will be consented for the study remotely via a secure internet platform called Zoom. Participants will undergo 1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI scan and up to 3 brain stimulation of transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS sessions, and cognitive behavioral testing on a computer.
Participants will complete 4 in-person visits over the course of up to 3 weeks.
Read the detailed description
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious neuropsychiatric illness with a prevalence of 1-5% in the general population. Two core symptoms of BPD are emotional dysregulation and increased impulsivity. These dysfunctions are associated with depression, anxiety, and impulsive acts, particularly acts of self-harm that may include suicide. Current treatment options for BPD include specialized psychotherapies and pharmacotherapy, which are of limited benefit for many patients. There is an urgent need for development of novel and more effective treatments.
BPD may arise from dysfunction of brain circuits involved in emotional regulation. A circuit-based treatment such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) holds promise for treatment of BPD. Several recent studies examined rTMS treatment in BPD and found it was well tolerated with encouraging signs of clinical efficacy. Advances in affective neuroscience, combined with progress in brain imaging and neuromodulation technology, make it possible to develop new circuit-based approaches to rTMS that could enhance efficacy for treatment for BPD. Evidence from task- based neuroimaging in BPD showed hyperactivity in the amygdala (a brain structure implicated in the generation of negative emotions) along with diminished top-down prefrontal-amygdala circuit control. These findings suggest that neuroimaging-guided rTMS stimulation of this circuit could enhance emotional regulation and behavioral control in patients with BPD and have greater therapeutic benefit.
This project aims to explore a novel circuit-based rTMS treatment protocol for BPD. 20 subjects with BPD will be recruited and undergo resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to identify regions in the right and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) having strongest connectivity with the right and left amygdala. These will be used as individualized targets for neuronavigated excitatory intermittent theta burst (iTBS) rTMS of right, left, and bilateral VLPFC. Change in measures of impulse control and emotion regulation will be examined pre-post single rTMS sessions to determine which stimulation target(s) show the greatest VLPFC-amygdala circuit engagement.
The study investigators will examine the effects of right-sided, left-sided, and bilateral VLPFC stimulation in 20 subjects to determine which target(s) show the greatest signal of engagement of the VLPFC-amygdala network.
- Conditions
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Being tested
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- Keywords
- BPD, Borderline Personality Disorder
- Medical subject headings
- Borderline Personality Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)Device
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. Using pulsed magnetic fields, transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy stimulates the part of the brain thought to be involved with mood regulation. These magnetic fields do not directly affect the whole brain; they only reach about 2-3 centimeters into the brain directly beneath the treatment coil.As these magnetic fields move into the brain, they produce very small electrical currents. These electrical currents activate cells within the brain, causing them to rewire, a process called neuroplasticity.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex | Experimental | Each subjects will receive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS to 3 different brain regions in 3 separate study visits spaced by at least 4 days (order randomized and counterbalanced amongst subjects).
1. Right Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex or VLPFC
2. Left VLPFC
3. Bilateral: left and right VLPFC within 1 session
The experimenters will utilize the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator equipped with the Cool B70 coil stimulate The TMS protocol includes 1800 pulses of excitatory intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) at 120% MT intensity. This protocol will take less than 9 minutes (for each target). Receives: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Delay Discounting Task (Odum, 2011)
The Delay Discounting Task (DDT) is cognitive behavioral task performed to evaluate how individuals value rewards over time. It measures the tendency of individuals to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones. This behavior is known as delay discounting.
Measured: Baseline, Visit 4 (up to 3 weeks)
Cognitive Reappraisal of Social Exclusion Pain Task (Zhao et al., 2021)
This task involves a comparison between a social exclusion group and a social inclusion group, and uses a pain-induction or pain-stimulus paradigm to measure the effects of social exclusion on individuals' perception and regulation of pain
Measured: Baseline, Visit 4 (up to 3 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Nov 2025
- Study start5 Jan 2024
- Primary completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Borderline Personality DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, Los AngelesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Andrew F. Leuchter, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07223619
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 23-1207
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Oct 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- PILOT Study: Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder by Targeting Ventrolateral Prefrontal-amygdala Circuit With Network-based Neuronavigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07223619
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 23-1207
- Conditions
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Keywords
- BPD, Borderline Personality Disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot study aims to identify the area of the brain best suited for the treatment of Borderline Personality disorder (BPD). The study investigators will test whether repetitiveTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a gentle non-invasive brain stimulation method, can improve regulation of emotions and impulsivity in individuals with BPD.
This study will enroll up to 20 participants. Participant will be consented for the study remotely via a secure internet platform called Zoom. Participants will undergo 1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI scan and up to 3 brain stimulation of transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS sessions, and cognitive behavioral testing on a computer.
Participants will complete 4 in-person visits over the course of up to 3 weeks.
Detailed description
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious neuropsychiatric illness with a prevalence of 1-5% in the general population. Two core symptoms of BPD are emotional dysregulation and increased impulsivity. These dysfunctions are associated with depression, anxiety, and impulsive acts, particularly acts of self-harm that may include suicide. Current treatment options for BPD include specialized psychotherapies and pharmacotherapy, which are of limited benefit for many patients. There is an urgent need for development of novel and more effective treatments.
BPD may arise from dysfunction of brain circuits involved in emotional regulation. A circuit-based treatment such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) holds promise for treatment of BPD. Several recent studies examined rTMS treatment in BPD and found it was well tolerated with encouraging signs of clinical efficacy. Advances in affective neuroscience, combined with progress in brain imaging and neuromodulation technology, make it possible to develop new circuit-based approaches to rTMS that could enhance efficacy for treatment for BPD. Evidence from task- based neuroimaging in BPD showed hyperactivity in the amygdala (a brain structure implicated in the generation of negative emotions) along with diminished top-down prefrontal-amygdala circuit control. These findings suggest that neuroimaging-guided rTMS stimulation of this circuit could enhance emotional regulation and behavioral control in patients with BPD and have greater therapeutic benefit.
This project aims to explore a novel circuit-based rTMS treatment protocol for BPD. 20 subjects with BPD will be recruited and undergo resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to identify regions in the right and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) having strongest connectivity with the right and left amygdala. These will be used as individualized targets for neuronavigated excitatory intermittent theta burst (iTBS) rTMS of right, left, and bilateral VLPFC. Change in measures of impulse control and emotion regulation will be examined pre-post single rTMS sessions to determine which stimulation target(s) show the greatest VLPFC-amygdala circuit engagement.
The study investigators will examine the effects of right-sided, left-sided, and bilateral VLPFC stimulation in 20 subjects to determine which target(s) show the greatest signal of engagement of the VLPFC-amygdala network.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex | Experimental | Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)Each subjects will receive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS to 3 different brain regions in 3 separate study visits spaced by at least 4 days (order randomized and counterbalanced amongst subjects). 1. Right Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex or VLPFC 2. Left VLPFC 3. Bilateral: left and right VLPFC within 1 session The experimenters will utilize the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator equipped with the Cool B70 coil stimulate The TMS protocol includes 1800 pulses of excitatory intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) at 120% MT intensity. This protocol will take less than 9 minutes (for each target). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age of 18-65
- DSM-5 Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) based upon a psychiatric evaluation and ZAN-BPD scale
- Fluent English speaker
- Ability to give informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Medical conditions that prevent TMS or MRI to be performed safely upon evaluation by the study psychiatrist
- Active alcohol or drug abuse of such severity that it would pose a risk for TMS administration (i.e., unstable motor thresholds or increased risk for seizure)
- Active suicidal plan
- Current diagnosis of Psychotic or Bipolar disorders
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. Using pulsed magnetic fields, transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy stimulates the part of the brain thought to be involved with mood regulation. These magnetic fields do not directly affect the whole brain; they only reach about 2-3 centimeters into the brain directly beneath the treatment coil.As these magnetic fields move into the brain, they produce very small electrical currents. These electrical currents activate cells within the brain, causing them to rewire, a process called neuroplasticity. | Device | Stimulation to Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex |
Primary outcome
Delay Discounting Task (Odum, 2011)
Time frame: Baseline, Visit 4 (up to 3 weeks)
The Delay Discounting Task (DDT) is cognitive behavioral task performed to evaluate how individuals value rewards over time. It measures the tendency of individuals to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones. This behavior is known as delay discounting.
Cognitive Reappraisal of Social Exclusion Pain Task (Zhao et al., 2021)
Time frame: Baseline, Visit 4 (up to 3 weeks)
This task involves a comparison between a social exclusion group and a social inclusion group, and uses a pain-induction or pain-stimulus paradigm to measure the effects of social exclusion on individuals' perception and regulation of pain
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Feb 2026.
Related trials for Borderline Personality Disorder
Recruiting
Combining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation With Emotion Regulation Skills Training in Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
RecruitingPhase 2
MDMA in Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Active, not recruitingPhase 2
Mindfulness-based Neurofeedback to Augment Psychotherapy for Adults With Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Recruiting
Predictors of Clinical Course and Treatment Response in DBT Programmes
Self Harm, Borderline Personality Disorder
Recruiting
Effectiveness of Enhanced Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Group for Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in people with Borderline Personality Disorder, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Delay Discounting Task (Odum, 2011) (time frame: Baseline, Visit 4 (up to 3 weeks)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Feb 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.