Magnetic pulses to the brain: a new hope for depression?

NCT ID NCT04392947

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: University Hospital Tuebingen Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a type of brain stimulation called theta burst stimulation (TBS) can help people with major depression who haven't gotten enough relief from standard treatments. 238 adults with moderate to severe depression received either real TBS or a sham (fake) version daily for 6 weeks, alongside their usual care. The goal was to see if TBS could reduce depression scores by at least half.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) – theta burst stimulation
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a non-drug add-on treatment to ease depression symptoms for people who haven't responded well to antidepressants.
What could go wrong: This is a completed trial, but results are not yet published. The effect may be small or no better than sham, and it requires daily clinic visits for 6 weeks.

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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.

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg

Augsburg, 86156, Germany
University of Leipzig, Dept. Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Leipzig, Germany
University of Munich

Munich, 80336, Germany
University of Regensburg, Dept. Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Regensburg, 93053, Germany
University of Tuebingen, Dept Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Tübingen, 72076, Germany
University of Um, Dept. Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Ulm, 89075, Germany
University of Wuerzburg, Dept. Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Würzburg, Germany

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