Magnetic brain stimulation for depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder
Tests rTMS brain stimulation for depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Feasibility and Efficacy of rTMS in Depression in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Key facts
- Where
- Rennes, FranceSee 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 18 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT07258914, who can take part
Where in France
- Centre hospitalier Guillaume RégnierRennes, FranceTaking 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
- Hospital Center Guillaume Régnier
- Trial code
- NCT07258914
- Record updated
- 2 December 2025
- Original description
Depression is a common complication of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): it is four times more prevalent in people with ASD than in the general population.Read full original descriptionShow less
Feasibility and Efficacy of rTMS in Depression in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Depression is a common complication of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): it is four times more prevalent in people with ASD than in the general population.
However, treating depression in people with ASD is complicated by the lack of guidelines. Antidepressants appear to be less effective and less well tolerated than in the general population.
rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is a technique that stimulates the brain in a painless and non-invasive way. This technique is well tolerated and has very few side effects (headaches, fatigue). It is now used routinely in clinical practice to treat resistant depression, with satisfactory results.
A few studies using rTMS in depression in people with ASD have shown encouraging results and avenues for improvement.
It could therefore be interesting to conduct a therapeutic study with rTMS on depression in people with ASD, following the avenues for improvement proposed by previous studies.
The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of rTMS in depressed patients with ASD by looking at changes in mood before and after treatment. The investigator will also look at the effects on executive and attentional functions and repetitive behaviors, as well as treatment tolerance.
Inclusion: Patient with a diagnosis of ASD validated by a psychiatrist or line 2; Patient aged 18 to 65; Patients suffering from EDM (MADRS greater than 20); No change in treatment in the month prior to inclusion; Patients affiliated with or entitled to social security; Patients who have received informed information about the study and have signed a consent form to participate in the study.
Exclusion: Patients with psychiatric comorbidity (decompensated manic state, schizophrenic disorder); Patients with contraindications to rTMS and MRI (history of epilepsy, neurological stimulator, pacemaker, cardiac defibrillator, cardiac prosthesis, vascular prosthesis, intracranial clips or clamps, cerebrospinal fluid shunt, metal fragments in the eyes, claustrophobia); Pregnancy at the time of inclusion; Adults under legal protection (legal guardianship, curatorship, trusteeship), persons deprived of their liberty, persons hospitalised under compulsion (SDT, SDRE).