Effects of Accelerated Bilateral Sequential Theta Burst Stimulation on Dual-task Cost, Depression, Cognition and Other Outcomes in Older Adults With Treatment-resistant Depression: A Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled Trial
The CogniTReaD study is a pilot clinical trial that will compare the effects of active accelerated bilateral sequential theta burst stimulation (absTBS) and sham or inactive treatment. The goal is to see if absTBS can help older adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) by looking at dual-task cost and mood, as well as other cognitive functions, anxiety levels, quality of life, and physical performance, while also checking for any treatment side effects. The study will recruit participants who will receive different study treatments in a specific order. The study will be double-blinded, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers will know who is receiving which treatment. The study will include people who are 50 years old or older and diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression with at least a moderate severity of depression. This study seeks to discover if absTBS can modify a dementia risk marker (i.e., dual-task cost and depression) in older patients with TRD, and to determine the effect size for larger investigations in the future.
• Aged 50 years or older;
• Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)-confirmed diagnosis of a non-psychotic major depressive disorder;
• Currently in a major depressive episode with a score on HAMD-17 of 17 or more;
• Insufficient response (i.e., failure to achieve remission) to at least two appropriate courses of antidepressant medications during the current depressive episode (i.e., meeting the criteria for TRD);
• Participants taking or not taking any psychotropic medication/s. If the eligible participant is on any psychotropic medications, the participant should have taken the medication/s at a stable dose for at least 1 week before the start of study intervention treatment and be willing to remain on a stable dose throughout the study follow-up;
• Passing the TMS safety screen; and
• Those who have the capacity to provide consent and who voluntary consent to participate in the study.