Medical Information Only. Always consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.
Transcranial Electric Stimulation Therapy (TEST) for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)
NCT05172271 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Background: People with TRD are often helped by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). But ECT can affect memory and thinking. Researchers want to study a treatment called TEST that uses less electricity. Objective: To study the safety and feasibility of TEST and assess its antidepressant effects. Eligibility: Adults aged 25-64 with major depression that has not been relieved by current treatments. Design: Participants will be admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for 5 18 weeks over 2 3 treatment phases. Their medications may be adjusted. Participants will be interviewed about their depression, side effects, and other treatments they are receiving. They will complete questionnaires. They will give blood and urine samples. Their brain waves and heart rhythm will be recorded. They will take tests of memory, attention, mental functioning, and thinking. Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the head and brain. They will lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner. Pictures of brain chemicals will also be taken. They may complete tasks during the MRI. Participants will receive TEST and/or sham treatments. They may receive optional ECT. An intravenous catheter will be placed in an arm vein to receive general anesthesia. Two electrodes will be placed on the front of their head. An electric current will be passed from the ECT machine through the electrodes. For sham treatments, they will not receive the electric current. Their breathing, heart rate, brain function, blood pressure, and body movements will be measured. Participants will have 7 follow-up visits over 6 months. Visits can be done via telehealth. Participation will last for up to 42 weeks.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DEVICE MagPro TMS Stimulator and coil
- DEVICE Thymatron(R) System IV
- DEVICE Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner
- OTHER ECT device without stimulation
Study Locations (1)
Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 8 participants |
| Start Date | 2022-11-08 |
| Est. Completion | 2027-10-31 |
| Phase | NA |
Interested in This Trial?
Always speak with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.
Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT05172271
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT05172271 describes a study currently listed as active not recruiting. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 8 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which has 317 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 3 conditions, with Major Depressive Disorder appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 4 interventions — of which MagPro TMS Stimulator and coil is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT05172271 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Maryland. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT05172271 about?
NCT05172271 is a clinical study titled "Transcranial Electric Stimulation Therapy (TEST) for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)". Background: People with TRD are often helped by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). But ECT can affect memory and thinking. Researchers want to study a treatment called TEST that uses less electricity. Objective: To study the safety and feasibility of TEST and assess its antidepressant effects. Eli...
What is the current status of trial NCT05172271?
This trial is currently active not recruiting. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 8 participants. The study started on 2022-11-08. Estimated completion is 2027-10-31.
What conditions does trial NCT05172271 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Unipolar Major Depression. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT05172271?
The interventions under investigation include: MagPro TMS Stimulator and coil (DEVICE), Thymatron(R) System IV (DEVICE), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner (DEVICE), ECT device without stimulation (OTHER). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT05172271?
This trial is sponsored by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which has 317 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT05172271 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Maryland. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
How Clinical Trials Work
Understand phases 1-4, trial design, randomization, and the informed consent process.
Patient Rights in Clinical Trials
Your rights as a participant: consent, withdrawal, privacy, and who to contact.
Finding the Right Clinical Trial
A practical guide to searching trials, understanding eligibility, and evaluating options.
All Guides
Browse our complete library of clinical trial educational resources.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.