5-Day brain zapping trial aims to lift severe depression

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion criteria: * Age range between 18 and 95 years * In- or outpatients with a moderate to severe single episode or periodic MDD according to ICD-10, verified by a M.I.N.I. interview. * Major Depression Inventory (self-rapport) score higher than 25. * Lacking or insufficient effect of at least two drug trials from two distinct classes, e.g., SSRI, SNRI, TCA, or MAO-inhibitors, used in the current episode, with adequate dose and duration as judged by the investigator. * Duration of the current episode must be longer than 2 months but shorter than 4 years, as judged by the investigator. Exclusion criteria: * History of neurologic disease affecting the brain, including dementia and epilepsy * Schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder except for psychotic depression * Head trauma causing more than 5 minutes loss of consciousness * Suicidal or psychotic symptoms making the transport of participants hazardous * Any form of compulsory admission or treatment within the past three months * Treatment with ECT in the current depressive episode * Non-responders to TBS treatment within the current episode * Current harmful use or dependency of substances according to ICD-10 and interfering with outcome evaluation as judged by investigator's discretion. * High risk of non-adherence as judged by investigators discretion * Medical and psychiatric conditions interfering with study outcome and safety as judged by investigator's discretion. * Female participants of childbearing age must not be pregnant or breast feeding, and they must use contraception during the trial. * One of the prime contra-indications for MRI, including severe claustrophobia (see Appendix 08.05) * One of the prime contra-indications for TMS and persons with electrically, magnetically, or mechanically activated implants or with metal or magnetic pieces in their head (see Appendix 08.04) * Patients who do not wish to be informed about MRI or EEG findings, which may have clinical relevance.