Who is eligible for clinical trial NCT04684706?

Participants must meet protocol criteria for Treatment Resistant Depression. Confirm exact inclusion and exclusion requirements with the study coordinator.

Does clinical trial NCT04684706 provide travel or cost reimbursement?

Check with the site coordinator at the participating facility for travel and lodging stipend availability, and for which routine-care costs are covered.

🏛️ Verified NIH Record • Updated 2026-01-14

Compressed Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (NCT04684706)

🔵 Active, Not Recruiting Observational / Diagnostic ⚙️ Medical Device Protocol Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

In this proposal the investigators will use an accelerated TMS protocol that concentrates the magnetic stimulation that would usually occur over 6 weeks into 10 treatment sessions per days, for 5 consecutive days in patient with treatment-refractory depression. This protocol will build on a previously published study demonstrating clinical efficacy of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-dlPFC) in a treatment refractory population.

Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (8 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (8 items).

Location: Department of Interventional Psychiatry, University of California San Diego — La Jolla, California

📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Check every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).

Gender, inclusive
18 - 70 years of age
Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for primary diagnosis of MDD
Patients must be fluent in English
Participants must have the ability to provide consent
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale score ≥20
Failed 2+ prior treatments (treatment-refractory)
May be on current anti-depressant medication at the discretion of PI, if not exceeding doses that would make TMS an increased risk

Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:

Exclusion Criteria:
Pregnancy (Female participants)
MRI contraindication
Medical condition that interferes with the collection or interpretation of MRI data
Implanted devices such as: aneurysm clip or cardiac pacemaker
Diagnosis of stroke, epilepsy, or other neurological disorders interfering with treatment at PI discretion
Any factor the investigator believe may affect participant safety or compliance (ex: ≥100 miles from clinic)
Current alcohol or substance use disorder in last 3 months

🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.

📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)

Department of Interventional Psychiatry, University of California San Diego — La Jolla, California
Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

🏛️ View Official NIH Record ↗