Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex to Target Neural Connectivity and Rumination in Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot Study
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to part of the brain called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) can treat a symptom called rumination in adults with major depression that has not responded to at least one medication trial. The main question it aims to answer are: Does TMS to the VMPFC change brain activity on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a negative self-referential processing task in adults with depression? Does TMS to the VMPFC affect rumination in adults with depression? Researchers will compare brain scans and rumination scores before, during, and immediately after TMS. Participants will: Undergo three functional MRI scans Undergo a course of 20 TMS treatments Respond to clinical questionnaires and complete a computer behavioral task
• Diagnosis of unipolar major depressive disorder without psychotic features by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and confirmed by study psychiatrist
• First depressive episode prior to age 50
• Current moderate to severe depression, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) ≥17)
• Failure to respond to ≥1 antidepressant medication at adequate dose and duration in the current depressive episode; (note: this criterion is designed to be consistent with the original 2008 FDA-labeled indication for TMS in Major Depressive Disorder, that specifies failure to respond to one prior medication at or above the minimal effective dose and duration in the current episode (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh\_docs/pdf8/K083538.pdf). ))
• Off psychotropic medications OR on a stable dose of medication(s) for 6 weeks, and willing to remain on stable medication dosage throughout the study
• Capacity to consent
• Ability to safely receive MRI