Efficacy of repetitive Transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with medication-resistant BIpolar DEpression: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study
Treatment-resistant bipolar depression, i.e. patients with bipolar depression who did not respond to two or more adequately dosed medication trials
Active repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS, low frequent 1Hz rTMS, targeting the right right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), compared to sham rTMS. In Phase 1, participants will be assigned to one of the two treatment groups and will receive active or sham rTMS for 25 rTMS sessions (i.e. 5 weeks). Phase 2 comprises of two follow-up measurements, one at 4 weeks and one at 12 weeks after treatment with active or sham rTMS. After the 12 weeks of follow-up patients allocated to sham rTMS will be offered active rTMS. In Phase 3 all patients will be followed for 21 weeks to determine the sustained response rate to treatment. Patients will be randomly allocated to the active rTMS or sham rTMS group. Stratified across sites, we will use block randomization, using random sequences of block size 4 and 6. This approach ensures treatment assignment balance within each complete block and minimizes the imbalance of group sizes within clinical centers, thus correcting for confounding from possible differences between treatment sites (such as differences in experience with rTMS). Block randomization will be done using Castor.
1. 18 years of age or older 2. Sufficient level of spoken and written Dutch 3. Ability to freely provide written informed consent 4. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of a depressive episode in bipolar I or II disorder, ascertained by the Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview (MINI-plus) 5. A Hamilton depression rating score (HDRS) of >16 points: this score will be obtained from the SIGH-ADS, a depression rating scale able to determine the HDRS score and a score for atypical depression 6. Have a medication-resistant bipolar depression, defined according to the criteria of Hidalgo-Mazzei, that is, lack of remission for 8 consecutive weeks after two different medication trials, at adequate therapeutic doses, with at least two recommended monotherapy treatments or at least one monotherapy treatment and another combination 7. Stable medication 4 weeks prior to the study, including anti-manic medication, consisting of lithium, valproate, carbamazepine and all anti-psychotic drugs, in patients with bipolar I disorder. Dosages of anti-manic medications will be determined between the participant/patient and his/her psychiatrist. Stable medication also includes stable use of benzodiazepines up to a dosage equivalent of 3.0 mg lorazepam
1. A (hypo)manic episode within 3 months before the start of the trial 2. A Young Mania Rating Scale score >12, before the start of the trial 3. Current psychotic disorder including psychotic depression, assessed by treating psychiatrist 4. Dementia, assessed with a dementia screening tool, i.e. the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), assessed at the baseline interview. Scoring below 20 points is an indication of the presence of dementia, this score below 20 points will be used as an exclusion criterium 5. Active suicidal thoughts and intent to act on it, assessed at the baseline interview and before the start of the trial. This assessment is based on the Columbia suicide severity rating scale, i.e. question 5 is answered positive “Have you started to work out or worked out the details of how to kill yourself? Do you intend to carry out this plan?” 6. Metallic devices implanted above the neck, assessed at the baseline interview 7. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy, by a neurologist, assessed at the baseline interview 8. Patients with bipolar II disorder who use anti-depressant medication without anti-manic medication or patients with bipolar I disorder, not using anti-manic medication 9. Substance abuse 4 weeks prior to the study, including high dosage of benzodiazepine, a dosage equivalent higher than 3.0 mg lorazepam, assessed at the baseline interview 10. Pregnancy, if there is any doubt a pregnancy test is performed at baseline 11. Previous treatment with rTMS 12. Inability to understand or comply with study requirements as judged by the investigators, assessed at the baseline interview