Brain zaps tailored to you: new hope for tough depression?

NCT ID NCT04040062

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION Symptom relief Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This pilot study tests whether a personalized form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is feasible and safe for people with severe major depressive disorder who haven't improved with multiple medications or therapy. Ten participants will receive up to 30 TMS sessions over 6 weeks, with the stimulation frequency tailored to each individual's brain activity. The goal is to see if this customized approach is practical and tolerable, not yet to prove it works.

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)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to a more personalized TMS treatment for people with severe depression who haven't responded to other therapies.
What could go wrong: This is a very small pilot study with only 10 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. It's testing feasibility, not effectiveness, and the personalized approach may not work better than standard TMS.

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.

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

University of California

Los Angeles, California, 90024, United States

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