To evaluate the antidepressant efficacy of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and investigate its neuromodulatory effects using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
Approach:
Study Design: A double-blind, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) with 12 sessions of active vs sham TPS in patients with MDD.
Participants: Adults aged 18 to 65 years with MDD, confirmed by a psychiatrist, and a baseline HAMD-17 score of 14 or higher.
Intervention: TPS treatment consisted of 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks, delivering 1000 pulses to the left DLPFC.
Outcomes: Primary outcome was change in MADRS score at postintervention; secondary outcomes included changes in HAMD-17 and PHQ-9 scores.
Key Findings:
Active TPS is hypothesized to induce a greater reduction in depressive symptoms compared to sham TPS.
The study aims to assess the changes in resting-state functional connectivity in the left DLPFC.
Interpretation:
The findings from this trial will provide insights into the efficacy of TPS as a treatment for MDD and its effects on brain connectivity.
Limitations:
Potential biases from placebo effects and unblinded assessments.
Participant heterogeneity and small sample size may affect generalizability.
Conclusion:
The study is designed to rigorously evaluate TPS in MDD, with a focus on both clinical and neuroimaging outcomes.
by Penny Ping Qin, Minxia Jin, Rebecca Laidi Kan, Ivan Chak, Bella Bingbing Zhang, Wanda Chau, Ami Li, Tim Tianze Lin, Adam Weili Xia, Sharie Xiao Wang, Tifei Yuan, Teris Cheung, Roland Beisteiner, Lei Sun, Frank Padberg, Georg S. Kranz
