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Depression - Major Depressive DisorderNCT07369713

Efficacy and Safety of Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation (a-iTBS) in Adolescents With Depressive Disorder

A study testing Experimental target a-iTBS treatment and Conventional target a-iTBS treatment in people with Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, run by First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University at 1 site in China.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to assess the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy trends of a Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation (a-iTBS) intervention for adolescent depression through a pilot clinical trial. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 12 to 18 years
Conditions the study is for
Depression - Major Depressive Disorder
What is being tested?
Experimental target a-iTBS treatment and Conventional target a-iTBS treatment
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
45 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Aug 2026to 1 Aug 2028
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 12 to 18 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 12 - 18 (2) Diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), confirmed through the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia - Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL), currently in a depressive episode (3) Score≥40 on the CDRS-R (4) Stable pharmacological treatment: At least 4 weeks of stable psychiatric medication use prior to enrollment, with continuation of the same psychiatric medication regimen throughout the study.
  • -

Who cannot join

  • Psychiatric comorbidities other than anxiety disorders
  • Depression with psychotic symptoms
  • Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score >13
  • A history of neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, brain injury) or severe somatic diseases (e.g., thyroid disorders, lupus, diabetes, pulmonary, hepatic, or renal impairment, major trauma)
  • Patients currently using anticonvulsants or high-dose benzodiazepines
  • A history of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), or other neuromodulation treatments
Show all 11Show fewer
  • A history of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence
  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Current high suicide risk
  • Potential complicating factors related to transcranial magnetic stimulation, such as scalp conditions or perforations that may affect magnetic field delivery
  • Contraindications to MRI -

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

China1 site
  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

    Chongqing, 400016

    Xinyu Zhou, 15823996993, zhouxinyu@cqmu.edu.cn

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Efficacy and Safety of Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation (a-iTBS) in Adolescents With Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Pilot Study

This study aims to assess the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy trends of a Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation (a-iTBS) intervention for adolescent depression through a pilot clinical trial. The findings will inform the design and optimization of subsequent formal randomized controlled trials, providing essential evidence for their execution.

Read the detailed description

This study is a randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot trial aimed at evaluating the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy trends of Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation (a-iTBS) for the treatment of adolescent depression.

Adolescents diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three groups: the experimental target a-iTBS treatment group, the conventional target a-iTBS treatment group, and the sham stimulation group. All three groups will receive 10 consecutive days of a-iTBS stimulation (5 Hz, 90% RMT) or sham stimulation intervention, using the Blackdolphin TMS Robot (SLD-YXRJ) by Xi'an Solide Brain Modulation Ltd. Co., with 50 sessions in total. The intervention frequency and procedure will remain consistent across all groups.

In the experimental target a-iTBS treatment group, participants will undergo MRI-guided identification of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) region, where the voxel most negatively correlated with the functional connectivity of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) will serve as the stimulation target. In the conventional target a-iTBS treatment group, participants will have the standard F3 target in the DLPFC identified via MRI guidance as the stimulation site. Participants in the sham stimulation group will receive a placebo treatment, simulating the a-iTBS procedure without generating an effective magnetic field output.

The primary outcome of the treatment phase is the efficacy rate or the remission rate of depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes include symptom scales, anxiety symptoms, suicide risk, quality of life, sleep, rumination, and cognition. Safety will be monitored through adverse events, vital signs, laboratory tests, and tolerability assessments.

Being tested
Experimental target a-iTBS treatment, Conventional target a-iTBS treatment, Sham stimulation treatment

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Experimental target a-iTBS treatmentDevice

    Participants will undergo MRI-guided identification of the voxel in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) that is most negatively correlated with the functional connectivity of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) as the stimulation site.

  • Conventional target a-iTBS treatmentDevice

    Participants will undergo MRI-guided identification of the standard F3 target in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as the stimulation site.

  • Sham stimulation treatmentDevice

    Participants will receive a sham stimulation treatment designed to simulate the a-iTBS procedure without generating an effective magnetic field output.

Study groups in NCT07369713
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental target a-iTBS treatment groupExperimentalParticipants will undergo MRI-guided identification of the voxel in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) that is most negatively correlated with the functional connectivity of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) as the stimulation site. Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation (a-iTBS) (5 Hz, 90% RMT) will be administered using the Blackdolphin TMS Robot device (model SLD-YXRJ) by Xi'an Solide Brain Modulation Ltd. Co., with 50 sessions over 10 consecutive days.
Receives: Device: Experimental target a-iTBS treatment
Conventional target a-iTBS treatment groupExperimentalParticipants will undergo MRI-guided identification of the standard F3 target in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as the stimulation site. Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation (a-iTBS) (5 Hz, 90% RMT) will be administered using the Blackdolphin TMS Robot device (model SLD-YXRJ) by Xi'an Solide Brain Modulation Ltd. Co., with 50 sessions over 10 consecutive days.
Receives: Device: Conventional target a-iTBS treatment
Sham stimulation treatment groupSham comparatorParticipants will receive a sham stimulation treatment designed to simulate the a-iTBS procedure without generating an effective magnetic field output. The intervention will use a dedicated sham stimulation coil, which is identical in appearance, operation, and stimulation protocol to the experimental group. This coil is designed to maintain the same auditory and tactile sensations as the active stimulation but is equipped with an electromagnetic shielding structure or an internal reverse coil arrangement to effectively prevent magnetic flux from penetrating the skull, ensuring no actual neuromodulatory effects.
Receives: Device: Sham stimulation treatment

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in CDRS-R (Children's Depression Rating Scale) scores from baseline

    Response rate of depressive symptoms (defined as ≥50% reduction in CDRS-R score) or remission rate of depressive symptoms (defined as CDRS-R score ≤28).

    The CDRS-R scale ranges from 0 to 54, with higher scores indicating worse depressive symptoms.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Change in BDI-II (Baker Depression Scale) scores from baseline

    Change in Beck Depression Inventory - Second Edition (BDI-II) scores from baseline.

    The BDI-II scale ranges from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating worse depressive symptoms.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

  2. Change in SCARED (The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders) scores from baseline

    Improvement in anxiety (SCARED minus the scores). The SCARED scale ranges from 0 to 82, with higher scores indicating worse anxiety symptoms.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

  3. Change in suicide risk from baseline on the C-SSRS (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)

    The severity of the suicide risk. The C-SSRS scale ranges from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating worse suicide risk severity.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

  4. Change in PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) scores from baseline

    Improvement in sleep status (PSQI minus the scores). The PSQI scale ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

  5. Change in PedsQL4.0 (The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) scores from baseline

    Improvement of children's quality of life (PedsQL 4.0 minus the scores). The PedsQL 4.0 scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

  6. Change in CGI-S (Clinical Global Impressions-Severity Scales) scores from baseline

    Improvement in overall clinical impression severity (7-point scale, with 1 being normal and 7 being among the most severely impaired).

    The CGI-S scale ranges from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating worse clinical severity.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

  7. Change in CGI-I (Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scales) scores from baseline

    Improvement of clinical general impression (7-point scale, with 1 denoting very much improved and 7 denoting very much worse, with higher scores indicating worse clinical improvement).

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

  8. Change in RSS (Ruminative Responses Scale)

    The level of improvement in negative thinking. The RSS scale ranges from 0 to 4 for each item, with a total possible score of 0 to 36, with higher scores indicating worse ruminative thinking.

    Measured: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Jan 2026
  2. Study start1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Aug 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Aug 2028 (estimated)

Resources

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This study employs a parallel assignment design. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the experimental target a-iTBS treatment group, the conventional target a-iTBS treatment group, or the sham stimulation group. All three groups will utilize the Blackdolphin TMS Robot device (SLD-YXRJ) by Xi'an Solide Brain Modulation Ltd. Co., receiving 50 sessions of a-iTBS stimulation (5 Hz, 90% RMT) or sham stimulation over 10 consecutive days, with consistent intervention frequency and procedures. Participants will remain in their assigned group for the entire study duration without any crossover.
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
45 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07369713
Sponsor's protocol ID
1stChongqingCQMU___ZXYa-iTBS
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
18 Jan 2026
Last updated
4 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Experimental target a-iTBS treatment and Conventional target a-iTBS treatment in people with Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, run by First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University at 1 site in China.

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 2 inclusion and 11 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 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 China. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

Contact Xinyu Zhou (15823996993, zhouxinyu@cqmu.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in CDRS-R (Children's Depression Rating Scale) scores from baseline (time frame: Baseline of treatment period, 10 days; The follow-up period was 1 month, 3 months). 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 4 Mar 2026.

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