Building a database to improve brain treatment outcomes

Plain-English translation of NCT04480918 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated March 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This is a registry study — meaning researchers are collecting and organizing health information from patients with treatment-resistant depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder who are receiving advanced procedural treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), infusions, or nasal spray. By gathering data from many patients in one place, doctors hope to discover patterns that help predict who will benefit most from each treatment.

While these procedural treatments work well for some people, doctors cannot yet reliably predict beforehand which patients will respond best to which treatment. This study aims to find biological markers — like changes in brain imaging, nervous system activity, genes, or brain waves — that could help doctors personalize treatment choices and improve outcomes for people with severe depression.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 99 years old
you speak English and can understand the study procedures
you have been diagnosed with major depression or bipolar disorder with depression, or with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder
your doctor at the Interventional Psychiatry Service believes you are a good candidate for one of their procedural treatments

You likely don't qualify if…

you are under 18 years old
you have a primary psychiatric diagnosis other than major depression, bipolar disorder, or treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder
you have serious unstable medical conditions such as uncontrolled asthma, uncontrolled thyroid disease, or active cancer
you have been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital
you have an implanted medical device like a pacemaker or metal objects in your body that would make brain imaging unsafe

What participation looks like

You would continue with your regular psychiatric care and procedural treatment at the University of Iowa's Interventional Psychiatry Clinic. As part of this study, researchers would collect additional information about you — such as brain imaging scans, blood work, brain wave recordings, and responses to questions — before, during, and after your treatment. The study systematically gathers this data to look for patterns that predict treatment success.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 2, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, Iowa