Improving emotion control in bipolar disorder with rapid noninvasive brain stimulation
Official title: Targeting Emotion Regulation in Bipolar Disorder with Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation: A Mechanistic Study
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11325293 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses short sessions of rapid, noninvasive brain stimulation aimed at a specific brain area to help people with bipolar disorder improve control over emotions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 5, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $824,334 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH136276-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325293 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with bipolar disorder, particularly those in a depressive phase who can undergo MRI and TMS and meet safety criteria, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are currently manic, have implanted metal or electronic devices, a high seizure risk, or cannot undergo MRI may not be eligible or likely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you join, you would receive several sessions of accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation (a form of transcranial magnetic stimulation) targeted to a brain area involved in emotion regulation. Some participants will get real stimulation and others a sham (placebo-like) procedure so researchers can compare effects. Before and after treatment you will have brain scans (fMRI) and computer-based emotion-regulation tasks to see if brain connectivity and behavior change. The study focuses on people with bipolar disorder who are currently experiencing depression and tracks whether short-term stimulation improves emotional control and related brain networks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, this could offer a faster, noninvasive way to improve emotional control and mood stability in people with bipolar disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Noninvasive brain stimulation like TMS and theta-burst has helped some people with depression, but using accelerated intermittent TBS targeted to emotion-regulation networks in bipolar disorder is a newer, more experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ellard, Kristen K — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ellard, Kristen K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.