Finding the right rTMS dose for depression after spinal cord injury
Evaluating a Novel Method to Determine the rTMS Dose Needed for Treating Depression After Spinal Cord Injury
This project tests a new way to set rTMS treatment levels so people with spinal cord injury who have depression can get safe, effective brain stimulation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11222672 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a spinal cord injury and depression, this research will try a different approach to choosing the rTMS dose because the usual hand-muscle test may not work for many people with upper-limb weakness. The team will compare the new dosing method to the standard approach to see whether it gives the intended brain stimulation without relying on a hand motor response. The goal is to make rTMS accessible and appropriately dosed for people with varying levels of arm or hand function after SCI. The work will be done through the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and involves clinical testing in people with SCI and depression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with spinal cord injury who are experiencing depression and who are being considered for rTMS treatment would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without depression, those with standard contraindications to rTMS (for example, certain implanted metal or a history of seizures), or those not able to attend study visits may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people with spinal cord injury could receive rTMS safely and get better treatment for depression.
How similar studies have performed: rTMS is an FDA-approved, effective treatment for major depression in the general population, but it has not been studied much in people with spinal cord injury and this dosing approach is new for that group.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vanderwerker, Catherine Jefferson — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Vanderwerker, Catherine Jefferson
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.