Can a smart brain implant outsmart depression?

NCT ID NCT04004169

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Andrew Krystal Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 03, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests a personalized approach to brain stimulation for people with major depression that hasn't improved with standard treatments. A device implanted in the brain measures each person's unique depression-related brain activity and delivers small electrical impulses to adjust it. The goal is to see if this closed-loop system can safely reduce depression symptoms.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Closed-loop deep brain stimulation using the NeuroPace RNS System, a surgically implanted device that delivers electrical impulses based on brain activity.
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a new treatment option for people with severe depression that hasn't improved with other therapies, potentially reducing symptoms by directly adjusting brain activity.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial, so results may not apply to everyone. The device requires brain surgery, which carries risks, and the treatment may not work for all participants.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of California, San Francisco
RECRUITING

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

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