Den här översättningen är inte klar ännu. Den här sidan är just nu på engelska.

Gå till den engelska sidan

Cure My Disease

Don't miss your cure!

 Log in / Sign up

Can magnetic pulses to the brain calm End-of-Life distress?

NCT ID NCT04257227

Symptom relief Sponsor: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 03, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce psychological and existential distress in people with advanced, terminal illness. Participants receive rTMS sessions while on a palliative care unit, and researchers measure changes in depression, anxiety, and overall distress. The study also checks if the treatment is practical and acceptable for patients nearing the end of life.

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), a non-invasive brain stimulation device
What this could lead to
If effective, rTMS could offer a rapid, non-drug option to relieve psychological and existential distress in patients nearing the end of life, improving their quality of life.
What could go wrong
This is an early-phase trial with a small number of participants, so results may not be conclusive. The treatment may not work for everyone, and there are risks like seizures or discomfort, though screening helps reduce these.

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

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

13 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Nov 2020

Finished

Nov 2024

Lead sponsor

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

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

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

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

Inclusion Criteria: * PC unit patients and PC patients in the community with advanced (terminal) illness * \>1 month life expectancy * Experiencing psychological distress, as indicated by a score of 7 or greater on the Depression, Anxiety, or Well-being subscale of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) * Ability to understand and communicate in English Exclusion Criteria: * Current or previously diagnosed seizure disorder or first-degree relative with current or previously diagnosed seizure disorder * Documented brain lesions * Inability to remain still while sitting up (45 degrees) for the duration of therapy * Known contraindications to rTMS, including: metallic skull plates, clips, or stimulators; pacemakers and other electronic implants; pregnancy; recurrent headaches with no known cause that do not respond to over-the-counter medications; current or previous skull fracture or traumatic brain injury; previous brain surgery; medications that lower seizure threshold

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Depression, anxiety are added.

Vår säkerhetsrekommendation!

Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety disorder Death Depression

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Depression, anxiety Depressive symptoms Psychological distress Terminal illness

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1N5C8, Canada

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.