Using brain markers to choose between TMS and ketamine for treatment-resistant depression

Trial details

Who runs it

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Trial code

NCT07680140

Record updated

6 November 2026

Original description

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Common treatments like antidepressant medications and talk therapy work well for some people, but many others do not improve, even after trying multiple treatments.Read full original descriptionShow less

Biomarker-Guided Antidepressant Selection for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Common treatments like antidepressant medications and talk therapy work well for some people, but many others do not improve, even after trying multiple treatments.

This study will investigate two alternative treatment options for people whose depression has not responded to standard treatments: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, and ketamine, a fast-acting medication. It can be difficult to decide between these interventions in clinical practice, and selecting between them often comes down to patient preference and trial and error. This study is working to optimize the selection approach: using biological and behavioral markers to match each person to identify biomarkers that may predict response to rTMS or ketamine. Investigators believe that differences in how individuals respond to rTMS versus ketamine are partly explained by differences in how their brains are organized, and that these differences can be measured and used to guide intervention decisions. This is an early-stage pilot study designed to test whether this biomarker-based approach is practical and acceptable to patients. Investigators will evaluate how well a combination of brain imaging and clinical data can predict, at the individual level, who is likely to respond to rTMS versus ketamine. The ultimate goal is to develop a reliable, scalable tool that helps clinicians make faster and more informed intervention decisions, reducing the time people with treatment-resistant depression spend searching for an antidepressant that works.

Inclusion: Provision of signed and dated informed consent form; Adults of all genders aged 18-70 at the time of screening; Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (by DSM-5 criteria); Depressive symptoms of at least moderate severity (GRID HDRS-17 score >= 14 or as determined by a study clinician); Failed at least 1 prior trial of standard first-line treatment for MDD per the modified Antidepressant Treatment History form, the Maudsley Staging Method, and APA Practice Guidelines (e.g., SSRI, SNRI, CBT) OR initiated and discontinued a trial of a first-line treatment for MDD (e.g. could not tolerate side effects, etc.); Not currently taking antidepressants OR on a stable dose of antidepressant for at least 1month prior to screening and plans to remain off antidepressants OR on this stable dose for the duration of participation; Current medication regimen is compatible with safe participation in the trial in the assessment of a study clinician; Access to psychiatric care before, during, and after completion of the study; For females of reproductive potential: agreement to use effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation; Proficiency in English sufficient to complete assessments and follow study procedure instructions; Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.

Exclusion: History of epilepsy or a history of seizures that would influence the participant's risk for TMS-evoked seizures; history of any condition / concurrent medication that could notably lower seizure threshold in the estimation of a study clinician; Met criteria for any clinically significant substance use disorder (by DSM-V criteria) with active substance misuse in the 6 months prior to screening; MRI contraindication, including presence of ferromagnetic foreign metal bodies or implants, implanted or conductive ferromagnetic objects in or near the head (e.g., stents, deep brain stimulators, vagus nerve stimulators, aneurysm coils, ocular implants, cochlear implants), and ferromagnetic permanent make-up that may undergo heating in an MRI scanner; Presence of primary psychiatric diagnosis other than MDD (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, MDD with psychotic features, primary psychotic illness, bipolar I or II disorder); Lifetime history of PCP/ketamine abuse; History or presence of significant neurological disorder that may be contributing to current depressive symptoms in the judgment of a study clinician (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease or other movement disorder, epilepsy); Presence of medical contraindications to ketamine, including liver function tests > 2.5x normal limit, recent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure > stage 2, angina pectoris, clinically significant bradycardia or tachycardia at the baseline assessment, or uncontrolled hypertension; Abnormal bloodwork that may be contributing to depressive symptoms in the estimation of a study clinician (e.g. indicators of clinically significant hypothyroidism, kidney failure, liver failure, etc.); History or presence of any disorder or medical condition that, in the opinion of the study team, may compromise, interfere, or limit the individual's ability to complete the intervention or study procedures; Imminent risk of suicide; Individuals who are nursing, pregnant, or contemplating pregnancy within the length of study participation.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07680140