rTMS for Depression in Young Adults With Autism
Key facts
- Where
- Toronto, CanadaSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 16 and 35 years old?
Where in Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthToronto, CanadaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Trial code
- NCT04972136
- Record updated
- 19 March 2026
- Original description
The current clinical trial is focused on evaluating the efficacy of rTMS for treatment of depression in youth and young adults (hereafter called transition aged youth, TAY) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The motivation to undertake the current efficacy study is driven by: (1) the substantial impact of depression on TAY with ASD (based on prevalence and contribution to disability/impairment); (2) lack of evidence-based treatments for depression in autism (there are no current trials rigorously evaluating any treatment for depression, i.e., psychotherapeutic, pharmacotherapeutic, brain stimulation); (3) rTMS has demonstrated efficacy in non-autistic individuals to improve symptoms of depression and may be better tolerated in youth than medication treatment; (4) a prior pilot rTMS study focused on treatment of executive function deficits in autism indicated that high frequency rTMS delivered using a rigorous randomized control trial (RCT) protocol can be feasibly implemented in TAY with autism, is well tolerated (mild to moderate adverse effects and low drop out), and has the potential to improve symptoms of depression.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) as Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in Transition-Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder
The current clinical trial is focused on evaluating the efficacy of rTMS for treatment of depression in youth and young adults (hereafter called transition aged youth, TAY) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The motivation to undertake the current efficacy study is driven by: (1) the substantial impact of depression on TAY with ASD (based on prevalence and contribution to disability/impairment); (2) lack of evidence-based treatments for depression in autism (there are no current trials rigorously evaluating any treatment for depression, i.e., psychotherapeutic, pharmacotherapeutic, brain stimulation); (3) rTMS has demonstrated efficacy in non-autistic individuals to improve symptoms of depression and may be better tolerated in youth than medication treatment; (4) a prior pilot rTMS study focused on treatment of executive function deficits in autism indicated that high frequency rTMS delivered using a rigorous randomized control trial (RCT) protocol can be feasibly implemented in TAY with autism, is well tolerated (mild to moderate adverse effects and low drop out), and has the potential to improve symptoms of depression.
Inclusion: Fluent in English; ASD diagnosis confirmed by the clinician/clinical team, and IQ> or =70; Able to participate in the informed consent process, provide voluntary informed consent and provide a spontaneous narrative description of the key elements of the study; Clinical stability: determined by a physician, no switch of psychotropic medications or increase in dosage in the last 30 days; no change in other therapeutic interventions in last 30 days; BDI-II score ≥21 that is sustained over a lead-in period of two weeks; Global Assessment of Function (GAF) scores (≤60) that is sustained over a lead-in period of two weeks AND/OR VABS-III below adequate functioning at baseline assessment.
Exclusion: Metal implants or a pace-maker, claustrophobia that would preclude the MRI scan; Taking benzodiazepines at a dose greater or equal to 2mg Lorazepam or any anticonvulsant medication; Prior rTMS treatment; A history of a DSM-5 substance use disorder (other than tobacco) within the past six months; or a positive baseline urine drug screen; Significantly debilitating medical or neurologic illness, or acute or unstable medical illnesses as determined by study physician; History of seizures; Actively suicidal (i.e., suicidal ideation with plan and intent) or high risk for suicide as assessed by a study psychiatrist; Pregnancy.