The goal of this study is to learn whether 5 days of accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a rapid form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity, works to treat depression in adults.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does accelerated iTBS reduce depressive symptoms compared to sham (placebo) stimulation?
- Are there measurable brain, biological, and digitally measured emotion changes associated with treatment response?
Participants will:
- Be randomly assigned to receive either active iTBS or sham stimulation
- Receive 10 stimulation sessions per day for 5 consecutive days (total of 50 sessions)
- Complete MRI brain scans and EEG recordings before and after treatment
- Provide blood and saliva samples to measure biological markers
- Complete depression rating scales and questionnaires at baseline, during treatment, and at follow-up visits
- Use a secure mobile app to record brief facial and vocal samples during the 5-day treatment and at follow-up visits
- Return for follow-up visits at 1 week and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment
