Individual Narratives of Stimulation (ECT and TMS)

Brief summary (registry, in English)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are two evidence-based treatments for major depressive disorder. Both work by stimulating the brain (a process known as neuromodulation), but they differ markedly in invasiveness. ECT requires a general anaesthetic, whereas TMS is delivered while a person is awake and alert and they can go home immediately afterwards. TMS has been proposed as an alternative to ECT for some people. However, TMS is not as effective as ECT in all cases, is generally slower acting, and remains less widely available. In Nottingham and Liverpool, there are a small number of individuals who have experienced both ECT and TMS across different episodes of depression. Whilst previous studies have explored experiences of ECT and TMS separately, often using relatively superficial methods, none have examined the perspectives of people who have received both treatments. This study addresses that gap through an in-depth exploration of their experiences. The investigators will use a narrative inquiry approach that encourages participants to tell the story of their experiences of ECT and TMS in their own words. Eligible participants will be adults who have previously received both treatments for depression. Participation involves four sessions: a structured discussion to map the timeline of their depression and treatments, two in-depth open-ended interview sessions (narrative inquiry), and a follow-up discussion about the researchers' reconstruction of their story. Recruitment will take place through services in Nottingham and Liverpool. This study will help to understand how patients relate to, and make sense of, ECT and TMS, which contextual factors shape their experiences, and how these treatments fit into broader recovery journeys. The findings will inform the development of patient-centred services, support shared decision-making, and help healthcare professionals deepen compassionate understanding of treatment experiences.

What you commit to

• Study type: Observational
• Planned participants: 12
• From Nov 2026 to the primary completion date, Oct 2027
• 2 sites 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.

Who the study is looking for

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (2)

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