Applying responsible innovation to develop next generation neuromodulation therapies for depression

A new National Institute for Health and Social Care (NIHR) Fellowship Project (NIHR503756).

Principal Investigator: Dr Paul Briley.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a type of neuromodulation (non-invasive brain stimulation) treatment. It uses magnetic pulses to re-balance brain activity. A patient attends a clinic once a day Monday to Friday for several weeks to receive a short TMS treatment. TMS is performed whilst a person is awake and alert, they can chat to the TMS practitioner and go home straight after.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one of the most effective treatments for depression.

However, not everyone benefits, and for many the long treatment courses, and need to attend clinic every day, make the treatment inaccessible. This has also contributed to poor availability of treatment on the NHS, despite TMS being recommended by NICE (HTG396) (the body that recommends treatments for use within the UK NHS) in 2015.

Over the next four years, the EnhanceTMS project will explore ways to boost response to TMS and improve treatment accessibility.

The project consists of two phases:

Phase 1

1. Mapping the scientific literature on ways to enhance response to TMS and increase treatment accessibility
2. Working with people who have experienced depression, including those from groups typically underrepresented in research and underserved by mental health services, to understand how treatments can be delivered in a more accessible way
3. Working with clinicians and industry to understand the feasibility of different approaches for use within the UK NHS in the near term

Phase 2

1. Running a feasibility study (a small-scale clinical trial) of one or two approaches to enhance response to TMS and increase treatment accessibility
2. Developing understanding of ways to improve study design so as to support people from underserved groups to participate
3. Preparing for a future full-scale trial of an enhanced TMS approach

If you would be interested in finding out more about the EnhanceTMS study as it progresses, you can sign up to our mailing list

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