Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Efficacy of Adjunctive D-Cycloserine to Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.


ABSTRACT:

Importance

The antidepressant effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols for major depressive disorder (MDD) are thought to depend on synaptic plasticity. The theta-burst stimulation (TBS) protocol synaptic plasticity is known to be N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor dependent, yet it is unknown whether enhancing NMDA-receptor signaling improves treatment outcomes in MDD.

Objective

To test whether low doses of the NMDA-receptor partial-agonist, D-cycloserine, would enhance intermittent TBS (iTBS) treatment outcomes in MDD.

Design, setting, and participants

This was a single-site 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial conducted from November 6, 2019, to December 24, 2020, including 50 participants with MDD. Participants were recruited via advertisements and referral. Inclusion criteria were as follows: age 18 to 65 years with a primary diagnosis of MDD, a major depressive episode with score of 18 or more on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a Young Mania Rating Scale score of 8 or less, and normal blood work (including complete blood cell count, electrolytes, liver function tests, and creatinine level).

Interventions

Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to either iTBS plus placebo or iTBS plus D-cycloserine (100 mg) for the first 2 weeks followed by iTBS without an adjunct for weeks 3 and 4.

Main outcomes and measures

The primary outcome was change in depressive symptoms as measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at the conclusion of treatment. Secondary outcomes included clinical response, clinical remission, and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores.

Results

A total of 50 participants (mean [SD] age, 40.8 [13.4] years; 31 female [62%]) were randomly assigned to treatment groups: iTBS plus placebo (mean [SD] baseline score, 30.3 [4.2]) and iTBS plus D-cycloserine (mean [SD] baseline score, 30.4 [4.5]). The iTBS plus D-cycloserine group had greater improvements in MADRS scores compared with the iTBS plus placebo group (mean difference, -6.15; 95% CI, -2.43 to -9.88; Hedges g = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.34-1.62). Rates of clinical response were higher in the iTBS plus D-cycloserine group than in the iTBS plus placebo group (73.9% vs 29.3%), as were rates of clinical remission (39.1% vs 4.2%). This was reflected in lower CGI-severity ratings and greater CGI-improvement ratings. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions and relevance

Findings from this clinical trial indicate that adjunctive D-cycloserine may be a promising strategy for enhancing transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment outcomes in MDD using iTBS requiring further investigation.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03937596.

SUBMITTER: Cole J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9557938 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Efficacy of Adjunctive D-Cycloserine to Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Cole Jaeden J   Sohn Maya N MN   Harris Ashley D AD   Bray Signe L SL   Patten Scott B SB   McGirr Alexander A  

JAMA psychiatry 20221201 12


<h4>Importance</h4>The antidepressant effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols for major depressive disorder (MDD) are thought to depend on synaptic plasticity. The theta-burst stimulation (TBS) protocol synaptic plasticity is known to be N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor dependent, yet it is unknown whether enhancing NMDA-receptor signaling improves treatment outcomes in MDD.<h4>Objective</h4>To test whether low doses of the NMDA-receptor partial-agonist, D-cycloserine, would e  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC8163818 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6400028 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6372023 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC11744375 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8957628 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7006239 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10200834 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3053339 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10806514 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4736997 | biostudies-literature