Medical Information Only. Always consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.
Maintenance rTMS for Depression (Maitr-De)
NCT06938841 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), yet substantial uncertainties persist regarding its efficacy as a maintenance treatment. This prospective study seeks to investigate the efficacy of maintenance rTMS in individuals with TRD who have previously responded to an acute course of rTMS. In the R61 phase of the study, we will recruit 75 participants across three study sites, the University of California San Diego, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Australian National University, into a double-blind, three-arm maintenance treatment trial. In this trial, participants will be randomized to receive either standard maintenance rTMS, clustered maintenance rTMS, or sham maintenance rTMS for a duration of 6 months. Our primary aim is to examine the efficacy of maintenance rTMS on sustaining connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and subgenual cingulate cortex (SGC) measured through concurrent TMS and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) at baseline and every six weeks throughout the 6-month treatment period. We will also assess changes in depressive symptom severity using clinical scales, including the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as a secondary outcome measure. It is hypothesized that stimulation with clustered maintenance rTMS will demonstrate superiority in sustaining DLPFC-SGC connectivity compared with standard maintenance rTMS and sham maintenance rTMS
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DEVICE Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - Standard maintenance rTMS:
- DEVICE Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - Clustered maintenance rTMS:
- DEVICE Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) -- Sham maintenance rTMS
Study Locations (3)
California
- University of California, San Diego — San Diego
New York
- Weill Cornell Medicine — New York
Australian Capital Territory
- Australian National University — Canberra
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 75 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-04-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2026-03-31 |
| 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 NCT06938841
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT06938841 describes a study currently listed as 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 75 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of California, San Diego, which has 823 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 2 conditions, with Major Depressive Disorder appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 3 interventions — of which Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - Standard maintenance rTMS: 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: NCT06938841 reports 3 study locations spanning 3 distinct geographic areas — top geographies include California, New York, Australian Capital Territory. 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 NCT06938841 about?
NCT06938841 is a clinical study titled "Maintenance rTMS for Depression (Maitr-De)". Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), yet substantial uncertainties persist regarding its efficacy as a maintenance treatment. This prospective study seeks to investigate the efficacy of maintenance rTMS ...
What is the current status of trial NCT06938841?
This trial is currently recruiting. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 75 participants. The study started on 2025-04-01. Estimated completion is 2026-03-31.
What conditions does trial NCT06938841 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Major Depressive Disorder, Treatment Resistant 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 NCT06938841?
The interventions under investigation include: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - Standard maintenance rTMS: (DEVICE), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - Clustered maintenance rTMS: (DEVICE), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) -- Sham maintenance rTMS (DEVICE). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT06938841?
This trial is sponsored by University of California, San Diego, which has 823 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT06938841 being conducted?
This trial has 3 study locations across California, New York, Australian Capital Territory. 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.