Recruiting
Phase 1

Accelerated rTMS

Sponsor:

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Code:

NCT06639594

Conditions

Impulse Control Disorder

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 21 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

Study Details

Brief summary:

To learn if accelerated rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) can be used as a possible therapy for excessive eating.

Conditions

Impulse Control Disorder

Study ID

NCT06639594

Start date

Nov 21, 2024

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Nov 3, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Nov 3, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 21 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 21 to 60
2. BMI>30 (confirmed at in person visit)
3. Able to follow verbal and written instructions in English and complete all aspects of the study.
4. Have an address and telephone number where they may be reached.
5. Subjects must report current stable residence. Stable residence is a domicile in which an individual can operate as if it were their own homestead and does not include shelters, halfway houses, treatment centers, or group homes.
6. Meet safety criteria for EEG and rTMS.
7. Willing and able to independently remove any metal from the neck and above for rTMS procedures (e.g., jewelry, retainer)
8. Provides written informed consent and agree to all assessments and study procedures.
9. Agrees to complete telehealth (live audio-video conference and phone) and in-person visits and to be contacted via text.

Exclusion Criteria

1. rTMS exposure for treatment or research purposes in the last 6 months.
2. History of seizure, epilepsy, syncope, fainting episode, or head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness.
3. Presence or history of neurological disorders (migraine, stroke, Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), increased intracranial pressure).
4. History of brain surgery, implanted electronic device, metal in the head.
5. Cardiac pacemakers, neural stimulators, implantable defibrillator, implanted medication pumps or sensors, intracardiac lines, or acute, unstable cardiac disease, with intracranial implants (e.g., aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes)
6. History of or currently under medical care for myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, stroke, or transient ischemic attack.
7. Reported history of vision problems that are not treated.
8. Has a hairstyle not compatible with the EEG net that is required to be worn on the scalp during the experimental procedure.
9. Reports current diagnosis or history of type I diabetes.
10. Currently using insulin.
11. Have undergone bariatric surgery.
12. Currently being enrolled in a weight loss program
13. Takes any prescription or over the counter medications or supplements to control weight and/or appetite.
14. Self-report a history of or current diagnosis of a mental health condition.
15. Reports insomnia (<4 hours sleep per night, in 3 or more nights per week in the last 3 months)
16. Reports (<4 hours of sleep) the day of the visit.
17. Reports using marijuana on a daily basis.
18. Reports having used any other illicit drugs (other than marijuana) or prescription medications for non-medical reasons in the last 12 months.
19. Currently receiving treatment for substance use disorder (e.g., alcohol, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, or stimulants).
20. Females who report averaging more than 7 alcoholic drinks, or males who report averaging more than 14 alcoholic drinks in a single week in the last 30 days.
21. Current use of certain medications (last 3 months):

  • Investigational drugs.
  • Drugs of anti or pro-convulsive action. Medications with psychotropic effects (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics).
  • Medications known to increase risk of seizure taken within 1 week of enrollment.
  • Smoking cessation medication (e.g., Zyban, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Chantix).
22. Being pregnant or lactating
23. Reported allergies to chocolate or any ingredient in the M\&M candies.
24. Noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.
25. Currently participating in any other research study.
26. Any otherwise not specified medical or psychiatric condition, illness, disorder, or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or treatment, as determined by the Principal Investigator and/or Study Physician
27. Subjects considered by the investigator as unsuitable for the study for reasons not otherwise stated.

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Intermittent theta burst stimulation

Participants undergo rTMS once a week for 2 weeks. In week 1 participants receive intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS)" for 3 sessions; in week 2 participants receive continuous theta burst stimulation ciTBS) for 3 sessions. Additionally, participants complete cued food delivery task assessment and undergo saliva sample collection on study.

experimental: Continuous theta burst stimulation

Participants undergo rTMS once a week for 2 weeks. In week 1 participants receive continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) for 3 sessions; in week 2 participants receive intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for 3 sessions. Additionally, participants complete cued food delivery task assessment and undergo saliva sample collection on study.

Interventions

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

RTMS is a non-invasive procedure in which a coil is placed over the scalp, and powerful, focused magnetic pulses are applied to parts of the brain through the coil.

Primary outcome measure

  • Safety and Adverse Events (AEs). [ Time Frame: Through study completion; an average of 1 year. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Francesco Versace, PHD, PHD

(713) 745-7933fversace@mdanderson.org

Locations

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Recruiting

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

Contacts

Francesco Versace, PHD,PHD

713-745-7933fversace@mdanderson.org

Principal Investigator:

Francesco Versace, PHD,PHD

More Information

Sponsor

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Last update posted

Mar 23, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center on 2026-03-23.