Testing brain stimulation for depression in adults with major depressive disorder
Tests two brain stimulation targets against sham stimulation in adults with depression.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation for Depression
Key facts
- Where
- Nanjing, ChinaSee 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: NCT07612501, who can take part
Where in China
- Zhongda Hospital Southeast UniversityNanjing, ChinaNo longer taking part
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
- Yonggui Yuan
- Trial code
- NCT07612501
- Record updated
- 28 May 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) can help treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. The study will also learn about the safety of tTIS and explore how it may affect brain structure and brain function.Read full original descriptionShow less
Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation for Depression
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) can help treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. The study will also learn about the safety of tTIS and explore how it may affect brain structure and brain function.
The main questions it aims to answer are whether active tTIS lowers depression symptom scores more than sham stimulation after treatment, and what medical problems or side effects participants have during or after tTIS.
Researchers will compare active tTIS targeting the left anterior limb of the internal capsule, active tTIS targeting the left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and sham stimulation. Sham stimulation is designed to feel similar to real stimulation but does not provide the same active treatment.
Participants with MDD will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. They will receive two 20-minute treatment sessions each day for 5 days. They will complete depression, anxiety, pleasure, psychosomatic symptom, and safety assessments before treatment, after treatment, and during follow-up. They will also have brain magnetic resonance imaging scans before and after treatment.
Inclusion: Diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), by two independent psychiatrists; 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) total score greater than 20 at baseline; Aged 18 to 65 years; Right-handed; Able to understand the study procedures and willing to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion: Receipt of transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial electrical stimulation, or electroconvulsive therapy within the past 3 months; Presence of metal implants or other contraindications to transcranial electrical stimulation or magnetic resonance imaging; History of epilepsy, brain tumor, or brain trauma; Any other condition judged by the investigators to make participation unsuitable for this study; Acute or severe suicidal ideation.