Could a magnet lift the mood of cancer survivors? small trial tests rTMS for depression and anxiety
NCT ID NCT01701284
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tested whether a non-invasive device that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain (rTMS) could safely help cancer survivors with depression and anxiety. Twenty-four adults who had been treated for any type of cancer and still had major depression received either fast or slow rTMS over six weeks. The goal was to see if symptoms improved and if the treatment was well tolerated, with no drug interactions or systemic side effects.
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) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer cancer survivors a drug-free option to ease depression and anxiety without side effects or drug interactions.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 24 people, no placebo group, and it's already completed. Results may not apply to all cancer patients, and the treatment may not work better than existing options.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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