Could magnetic pulses ease MS depression and fatigue?
NCT ID NCT07562074
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tests whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is safe and helpful for depression and fatigue in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). About 20 participants will receive daily rTMS sessions for 5 days, with assessments before, after, and at a 4-week follow-up. The goal is to see if this non-invasive brain stimulation can improve mood, fatigue, and thinking in people with MS who haven't responded to standard treatments.
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 it works, this could point toward a new, non-invasive treatment option for depression and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small pilot study with only 20 participants and no control group. The results may not apply to all MS patients, and safety in this population is still being tested.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jun 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18-65 years of age, inclusive. 2. Males, females, and non-binary. 3. Clinical diagnosis of relapsing-remitting or primary-progressive multiple sclerosis according to the revised McDonald criteria and as determined by the study neurologist and medical records. 4. Expanded Disability Status Scale score \<7. 5. Fatigue Severity Scale ≥ 4. 6. Moderate to severe major depressive disorder as defined by a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 item score ≥18. 7. Did not benefit adequately from ≥ 1 antidepressant or course of psychotherapy. 8. Stable immunotherapy for at least 3 months and medications for at least 4 weeks. 9. Have no contraindications to TMS or magnetic resonance imaging. 10. Ability to provide written consent obtained from study subject or subject's legal representative and ability for study subject to comply with the requirements of the study. 11. Are able to adhere to the treatment schedule 12. Pass the TMS adult safety screening (TASS) questionnaire Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of any disease, medical condition, or physical condition that, in the opinion of the study investigator, study psychiatrist, or study neurologist, may compromise interfere, limit, affect, or reduce the study subject's ability to complete the study. 2. Presence of any disease, medical condition, or physical condition that, in the opinion of the study investigator, study psychiatrist, or study neurologist, may adversely impact the safety of the study subject or the integrity of the data. 3. History of seizures. 4. Any cranial metal implants (excluding ≤ 1mm thick epicranial titanium skull plates and dental fillings) or medical devices (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, deep brain stimulator, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant). 5. Previous surgeries opening the skull leaving skull defects capable of allowing the insertion of a cylinder with a radius ≥ 5mm. 6. Any diagnosis of a psychiatric diagnosis determined to be primary. 7. Are at a significant risk of harm to themselves or others. 8. Have a substance or alcohol use disorder within the last three months. 9. If participating in psychotherapy, must have been in stable treatment for at least three months prior to entry into the study, with no anticipation of change in the frequency of therapeutic sessions, or the therapeutic focus over the duration of the study. 10. Are currently pregnant, breast feeding, or plan to become pregnant over the duration of the study. 11. Active suicidal ideation as defined by a score of 4 ≥ on item 10 of MADRS 12. Have failed a course of ECT in the current episode. Previous ECT treatment outside of the current episode does not influence inclusion. 13. Have any significant neurological disorder or insult including, but not limited to: any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure, space occupying brain lesion, any history of epilepsy, cerebral aneurysm, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for greater than or equal to 5 minutes 14. Have concomitant major unstable medical illness
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Foothills Medical Centre
Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada
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