Pilot Study of the Safety and Tolerability of L-DLPFC iTBS rTMS for MDD in MS

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and tolerability of intermittent Theta Burst (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), its effectiveness in alleviating depressive symptoms as well as its effects on cognition. Although iTBS rTMS is approved for use, there have been no safety and tolerability evaluations of this form of rTMS in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and tolerability of intermittent Theta Burst (iTBS), its effectiveness in alleviating depressive symptoms, concomitant neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and fatigue in people with MS, as well as its effects on cognition. Although iTBS repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is approved for use in major depressive disorder (MDD), there have been no safety and tolerability evaluations of this form of rTMS in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patient with MDD. Although iTBS rTMS has previously been found safe and effective for treating spasticity in people with MS, this will be the first study to investigate the safety and tolerability of Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (L-DLPFC) iTBS rTMS for MDD in MS This study is designed as an open-label pilot study. Participants will undergo baseline evaluations to confirm a diagnosis of MDD and to assess your eligibility for rTMS treatment. If deemed eligible, participants will receive iTBS treatment. iTBS is a form of rTMS approved by Health Canada for treatment of MDD. iTBS rTMS treatment involves 3 minutes of non-invasive brain stimulation, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks, for a total of 20 treatments. While receiving iTBS rTMS, participants will be seen daily by the rTMS operator who is a mental health nurse. While receiving iTBS rTMS, participants will see the research coordinator and study psychiatrist on a weekly basis, to complete clinical assessments to evaluate their neuropsychiatric symptoms and assess any side effects from the rTMS procedure. As part of the suggested pathophysiological profile of depression the levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor ⍺ (TNF-⍺) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have shown elevated concentration levels in plasma of depressed compared to non-depressed individuals. In this study, we aim to investigate the levels of these inflammatory cytokine markers and their change with iTBS.