NCT06586398Completed
A Pilot rTMS Trial for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Long-COVID
A Pilot Randomized Trial of rTMS for Fatigue and Brain Fog and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Long-COVID.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 6 Jul 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
This is a pilot randomized trial of rTMS for symptoms of fatigue and brain fog, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms of Long-COVID (Post-COVID, post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 infection, PASC). Twenty participants diagnosed with Long-COVID and recruited from the UCLA Long-COVID clinic will be randomized to receive active rTMS versus sham stimulation for 15 treatments followed by another 15 open-label rTMS treatments. Investigators will compare the safety and tolerability of rTMS vs Sham and examine within-group changes in symptoms of fatigue, sleep, pain, mood, and subjective and objective cognitive impairment. This project will provide information and pilot data for future larger clinical trials.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 10 (actual)
- First submitted
- 21 Aug 2024
- Start date
- 1 Jan 2025
- Primary completion date
- 1 Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Diseases
- Long COVID and ME/CFS
- NCT number
- NCT06586398
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 10
- From 1 Jan 2025 to the primary completion date, 1 Mar 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Presence of an implanted metallic and magnetic-sensitive medical device present in the body scan, including but not limited to a cochlear implant, infusion pump, implanted cardioverter defibrillator, pacemaker, vagus nerve stimulator, aneurysm clip, metal prosthesis, or metal aneurysm clips or coils, staples, or stents.
Other illness
- Infection of poor skin condition over the scalp where the rTMS device will be positioned
- Lifetime history of diagnosed bipolar disorder; psychosis, such as schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorder; intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder); organic brain damage; or suicide attempts in the past 24 months.
- Current abuse or dependence on alcohol or any illicit drug of abuse (disorder in last 6 months). Any recent use of cocaine or opiates will also be exclusionary.
- Participants with asthma or with a history of serious, uncontrolled medical illness or instability (including significant cardio-pulmonary disease, organic brain including significant cardio-pulmonary syndrome, pre-existing dementia, seizure disorder, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes)
- Taking medications known to lower seizure thresholds (Clozaril/ Wellbutrin)
- Neurological conditions that include epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, increased intracranial pressure, having a history of repetitive or severe head trauma, or primary or secondary tumors in the central nervous system.
Age
- Pregnancy: Female participants will be tested for pregnancy at baseline and agree to use a medically acceptable form of birth control throughout the study, for women younger than 60.
Other
- Mentally or legally incapacitated or unable to give informed consent
- MOCA \< or = 24
- Severe MDD with suicidality of Psychosis- excluded
- As-needed use of benzodiazepines and beta-blockers will be permitted but discouraged during assessment days.
Who the study is looking for
- 18+ years of age
- Prior hx of PCR confirmed COVID-19 infection. Determined by the PI or participant's physician.
- Subsequent development of post-acute neuropsychiatric symptoms with fatigue and brain fog as primary outcomes
- USE of Psychotropic medications
- Stable on psychotropic medications for 4+ months
- Confirmed diagnosis of Long COVID
- Subjects are willing and able to adhere to the treatment schedule and required study visits
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA Semel Institute Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Los Angeles | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.