Can faster brain zaps beat teen depression?

NCT ID NCT06528938

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This pilot study tests whether giving brain stimulation three times a day (accelerated) works better than the standard once-daily schedule for teenagers aged 16-19 with treatment-resistant depression. Ten participants will receive fMRI-guided theta burst stimulation, a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic pulses to target brain areas linked to mood. The goal is to see which schedule is more feasible and effective at reducing depressive symptoms.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Theta burst stimulation (a type of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) delivered via a Cool B70 coil and X100 MagPro device
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a faster, more effective treatment option for teenagers with depression that hasn't responded to standard therapies.
What could go wrong: This is a very small pilot study with only 10 participants, so results may not apply widely. The treatment is still experimental for adolescents, and benefits may not be confirmed in larger trials.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression depressive disorder major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DEPRESSION DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, MAJOR

Contacts and locations

Locations

The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research
RECRUITING

Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 7K4, Canada

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