New pulse therapy for depression put to the test
NCT ID NCT05551585
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a new treatment called transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) for people with major depression. 80 adults received either real TPS or a fake (sham) version to see if it safely reduces depressive symptoms. The goal is to find out if this non-invasive brain therapy can help those who don't get enough relief from standard treatments.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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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
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80 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2023
- Finished
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Oct 2025
- 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
MDD group Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 65; * A clinical diagnosis of a MDD according to psychiatrist visit records or a clinical interview using the Chinese version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) * Baseline HAMD17 score ≥ 14; * Treatment naivety or stable (≥4 weeks) psychopharmacological medication. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe internal diseases including blood clotting disorders; * Neurological disorders including bleeding prone micro-pathologies or a history of severe head injuries; * Current psychiatric comorbidities, including addiction; * Pregnancy; * Common NIBS exclusion criteria, such as a history of brain surgery, cardiac pacemaker, deep brain stimulation and intracranial metallic particles.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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