Context-Guided Personalized iTBS for Depression

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether context-guided personalized intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) works better than standard iTBS for adults with major depressive disorder. iTBS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain.

Participants will be assigned by chance to one of two treatment groups. The standard treatment group will receive iTBS at a commonly used target in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after watching a neutral video. The personalized treatment group will receive iTBS at an individual brain target selected using magnetic resonance imaging data. Before each treatment session, participants in this group will watch a positive emotional video intended to activate brain functions related to the selected target.

Both groups will receive five iTBS sessions per day for five consecutive treatment days. Participants will continue their stable antidepressant treatment during the study.

The main question is whether context-guided personalized iTBS results in a higher treatment response rate than standard iTBS two weeks after treatment. Treatment response is defined as a reduction of at least 50% from baseline in the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score.

Researchers will also compare early changes in depression, anxiety and other clinical symptoms, changes in brain imaging measures, and any side effects. Clinical and brain imaging assessments will be conducted before and after the treatment course, and clinical symptoms will be assessed again two weeks after treatment.