Brain Imaging of rTMS Treatment for Depression

A Causal Neural Network-level Understanding of Depression and Its Treatment Through Concurrent TMS and fMRI

The overarching goal of this research program is to elucidate causal and directional neural network- level abnormalities in depression, and how they are modulated by an individually-tailored, circuit-directed intervention. By using concurrent TMS and fMRI, the investigators can overcome a major limitation of neuroimaging - the inability to demonstrate causality. The investigators' findings will serve as a platform for future studies wherein TMS treatment can be directly guided by the investigators' ability to image and causally manipulate specific neural networks.

Aim 1: To examine causal interactions between two major brain networks in depression.

Aim 2: To examine the impact of antidepressant TMS on causal network abnormalities in depression.

Hypothesis 1: Depressed subjects will show blunted responses, compared to healthy controls, in two targeted and interacting networks, using concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Hypothesis 2: Treatment of patients with high-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) will result in normalization of baseline network-level deficits, and be predicted by degree of baseline network abnormalities.

This study has a single primary outcome measure and other measures are exploratory. Previous versions of this study record incorrectly listed some exploratory outcome measures as secondary.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women, ages 18 to 50
• Depression assessed through phone screen
• Must comprehend English well to ensure adequate comprehension of the fMRI and TMS instructions, and of clinical scales
• Has failed >1 previous adequate antidepressant medication trials
• Right-handed
• No current or history of neurological disorders
• No seizure disorder or risk of seizures

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any contraindication to being scanned in the 3T scanners at the Lucas Center or CNI such as having a pacemaker or implanted device that has not been cleared for scanning at the Lucas Center or CNI
• Any unstable medical condition, any significant CNS neurological condition such as stroke, seizure, tumor, hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, etc
• Current rTMS treatment or prior treatment failure with rTMS
• Current electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or prior treatment failure with ECT
• Currently pregnant or breastfeeding