Tailored magnetic pulses aim to restore pleasure in depressed patients

NCT ID NCT05537285

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: University of California, San Diego Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested a personalized form of brain stimulation for people with depression who no longer feel pleasure (anhedonia). Sixty adults received either individualized, standard, or fake magnetic pulses to the brain over one week. The goal was to see if tailoring the stimulation to each person's brain activity could better improve mood and restore enjoyment.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Accelerated Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (aiTBS) using a magnetic coil device
What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to a more effective, personalized brain stimulation treatment for people with depression who have lost interest or pleasure in activities.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study (60 people) comparing different types of stimulation. The results may not apply to everyone with depression, and the benefits might be modest or temporary.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Anhedonia bipolar II disorder endogenous depression major depressive disorder melancholia

As listed by the trial registrant

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

ANHEDONIA MDD

Contacts and locations

Locations

UCSD Interventional Psychiatry

San Diego, California, 92127, United States

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