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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

    RECRUITING

    Chongqing, China

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••