Copenhagen Magnetic Personalized Accelerated Brain Circuit Therapy (CoMPACT) trial: study protocol for a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled, three-armed, parallel-group trial of transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression

Background

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), characterized by poor response to conventional antidepressant therapies, remains a major clinical challenge. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) has emerged as a promising alternative. Employing intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), TMS protocols have yielded rapid antidepressant effects in recent accelerated treatment studies. These findings warrant further investigation in larger samples to confirm efficacy and in-depth investigation into the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, other cortical sites may also represent suitable targets for accelerated iTBS treatment of TRD.