Dual Neuromodulation for Depression: Boosting TMS with tES (DUAL‑MOD)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing an approach for boosting the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation in major depressive disorder using synchronised transcranial electrical stimulation (“tsTMS”)
IRAS ID
364276
Contact name
Yue Peng
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Most people who experience depression will be offered medications or talking therapies. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is another treatment choice. TMS delivers magnetic pulses to the front parts of the brain whilst a person is awake and alert. It changes the way brain areas communicate with each other. In some people, TMS lifts mood quickly. However, for most, TMS works gradually over several weeks and many will improve but remain depressed.
This mechanistic study will examine a way to make TMS more effective for more people. It combines TMS with another well-tolerated form of brain stimulation called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which uses weak electric currents. We will examine how the combination works in people with depression by measuring changes in emotion recognition and brain activity.
The study employs a three-arm, parallel group, single-blinded, randomised design. Sixty participants will be randomised (in 1:1:1 ratio; peak-synchronising TMS with tACS (tsTMS-p), trough-synchronising TMS with tACS (tsTMS-t), and TMS only) from the Mersey Care Mood Clinic (MCMC) within the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Eligibility criteria are for participants who can read and understand English, have a PHQ-9 score between 10 and 19 and meet the criteria for a current major depressive episode. The primary outcome measure is change in emotional recognition (shift in bias towards the perception of happy versus sad faces) following five once-daily sessions of TMS + tACS (tsTMS-p or tsTMS-t) versus TMS alone.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/EE/0120
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion