Rapid Antidepressant Dynamics in Acute Neuromodulation Treatments

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how different types of non-invasive brain stimulation affect mood and brain function in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). It will also study how brain stimulation may work together with antidepressant treatments. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How do different patterns of brain stimulation affect mood in people with depression? Do brain networks involved in emotion and self-reflection respond differently depending on the type of stimulation? What are the combined effects of brain stimulation and antidepressant treatments on mood and brain activity? Researchers will compare different brain stimulation patterns and target areas to understand their individual and combined effects. Participants will: Receive three types of brain stimulation (intermittent, continuous, and sham) in different sessions Undergo MRI scans during the administration of either a fast-acting or conventional antidepressant. Complete mood assessments during the scan and for one week after each session This study may help identify brain-based strategies to improve treatment for depression. In addition, a subset of participants (\~10) will complete a reward-guided decision-making fMRI task for feasibility purposes.

NCT Number	NCT06976840
Lead Sponsor	Marta Peciña, MD PhD Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Conditions	Depression, Major Depressive Disorder
Enrollment	200 participants
Start Date	2026-05-15
Primary Completion	2030-08-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2030-08-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-22