Brain stimulation aimed at the amygdala for adults with major depressive disorder
Tests temporal interference stimulation against sham stimulation in adults with major depressive disorder.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Amygdala-Targeted Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial of Clinical Efficacy and Neurobiological Mechanisms
Key facts
- Where
- Shanghai, 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 55 years old?
Source: NCT07829575, who can take part
Where in China
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health CenterShanghai, 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
- Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Tongji University
- Trial code
- NCT07829575
- Record updated
- 21 September 2026
- Original description
This randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amygdala-targeted transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and to explore its potential neurobiological mechanisms.Read full original descriptionShow less
Amygdala-targeted Temporal Interference Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder。
This randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amygdala-targeted transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and to explore its potential neurobiological mechanisms.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
Whether active amygdala-targeted tTIS reduces depressive symptoms compared with sham stimulation.
Whether tTIS produces changes in amygdala-related neural activity and functional brain networks that are associated with clinical improvement.
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active tTIS or sham stimulation. They will complete a course of stimulation sessions and undergo clinical assessments before and after the intervention. Neuroimaging assessments will also be performed to investigate treatment-related changes in the amygdala and associated brain networks.
Inclusion: Aged 18 to 55 years, inclusive, with no restriction on sex; Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), as determined by a study physician; A 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score ≥17 at screening/baseline; The antidepressant medication regimen must remain stable from at least 30 days before signing the informed consent form through the study period; In the judgment of the investigator, the participant or their legally authorized representative is able to understand the purpose and procedures of the study, comply with the study protocol, and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion: Receipt of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or other physical treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), within the 30 days before enrollment; A history of other psychiatric disorders, neurological disorders, or substance abuse that, in the investigator's judgment, may interfere with the assessment of treatment efficacy; A history of epilepsy, seizures, or convulsive episodes; Presence of intracranial metallic foreign bodies or metallic implants in or near the heart; Presence of organic brain disease, or a history of severe head injury or cranial surgery; An unstable psychiatric condition or significant suicide risk, as assessed by the investigator; Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the participant unsuitable for participation in this study; Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding; Current participation in another interventional clinical trial.