Brain Activity Changes During Depression Treatment With Magnetic Stimulation

This trial is testing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)—a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation—for people with major depression that hasn't responded well to other treatments. Researchers will measure brain electrical activity before, during, and after the treatment to understand how it works and which brain changes predict who will improve. The study will also compare two different schedules for continuing treatment after the initial intensive phase.

Many people with depression don't get better with medication alone, and doctors need better ways to predict who will respond to this treatment and how to maintain improvements long-term. By studying the brain's electrical activity, researchers hope to understand how the treatment works and find the best way to keep people well after their initial course of therapy.