Brain zaps guided by MRI could lift teen depression
NCT ID NCT07185438
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether MRI-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is safe and feasible for treating depression in 45 adolescents aged 12-18. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either targeted brain stimulation, standard stimulation, or a sham (fake) procedure over 20 sessions. The goal is to see if this non-invasive treatment can reduce depressive symptoms and to gather data for larger future trials.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a non-drug treatment option for adolescent depression, potentially reducing symptoms without medication side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early pilot study with only 45 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The sham group helps control for placebo effects, but the treatment may not prove effective or may cause side effects like discomfort or headache.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
RECRUITINGChongqing, China
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