A Phase 2 interventional study of D-Cycloserine (DCS) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Depression, Anxiety and Trauma Patients, sponsored by Mclean Hospital. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-09.
Sponsored by Mclean Hospital · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This study is testing whether combining a rapid form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), an oral medication called d-cycloserine (DCS), and therapy can improve brain flexibility and emotional control in adults experiencing moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, or trauma symptoms. TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain.
In this phase of the study, all participants receive active accelerated TMS (delivering multiple brief sessions in a single day) along with DCS, a medication that helps enhance brain learning and plasticity. Participants will be randomly assigned to have TMS directed at one of two brain targets: a region called the precuneus (identified using personalized brain scans) or the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (a standard area for mood treatment). Afterward, participants are randomly assigned to complete three weeks of either therapist-led talk therapy (a modified Unified Protocol) or self-guided educational videos and readings. The main goals are to determine which brain stimulation target works best and to see whether therapist-led therapy leads to more lasting symptom relief and brain changes compared to self-guided education.
Trauma, severe stress, anxiety, and depression can make it difficult to adapt thinking patterns (cognitive flexibility) and manage intense, negative emotions (emotion regulation). While transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and cognitive behavioral therapies are helpful, standard treatments can take weeks or months and do not work for everyone.
Researchers are combining three approaches to see if they can create stronger, longer-lasting benefits:
8,240 studies on the registry are indexed under Depression; 1,641 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 75 is below the median of 84 across 6,869 interventional studies indexed under Depression.
Browse Depression studies →Mclean Hospital is the lead sponsor of 185 studies on the registry; 32 are open to participants now.
Of its 15 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 11 (73%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
TMS targeted to the precuneus followed by Unified Protocol (therapy) administered by a therapist
Drug: D-Cycloserine (DCS) · Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation · Behavioral: Unified Protocol
TMS targeted to the precuneus followed by self-led psychoeducation
Drug: D-Cycloserine (DCS) · Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation · Behavioral: Psychoeducation
TMS targeted to the DLPFC followed by Unified Protocol (therapy) administered by a therapist
Drug: D-Cycloserine (DCS) · Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation · Behavioral: Unified Protocol
TMS targeted to the DLPFC followed by self-led psychoeducation
Drug: D-Cycloserine (DCS) · Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation · Behavioral: Psychoeducation
Single dose of 125 mg of D-cycloserine
TMS delivered to either the DLPFC or the precuneus
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy delivered in an abbreviated schedule by a licensed therapist
Self-lead psychoeducation
Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)
The PHQ-9 is a multipurpose instrument for screening, diagnosing, monitoring and measuring the severity of depression. The PHQ-9 test evaluates several factors that revolve around the criteria used to professionally diagnose depression under the current DSM-5. The total score is calculated and can range from zero to 27, with 27 being the highest and indicative of the worst outcome/severity. A score of 20 or higher indicates that severe major depression Scoring between 15 and 19 suggests that there is possibly moderately severe major depression Scoring between 10 and 14 means that you may have a moderate severity depression A score between 5 and 9 reveals that mild symptoms of depression appear to exist
Time frame: At each study visit, measured at Baseline, and 1-week, 1-month, and 3-months after treatment
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 Item Scale (GAD-7) is a self-administered questionnaire designed for screening and measuring the severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The GAD-7 consists of seven items that respondents rate based on their experiences over the past two weeks, with each item scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The cumulative score, ranging from 0 to 21, indicates the severity of GAD symptoms, with higher scores corresponding to greater anxiety levels. This simplicity in administration and interpretation makes the GAD-7 a practical tool for healthcare providers to quickly assess anxiety levels and monitor changes over time.
Time frame: At each study visit, measured at baseline, 1-week, 1-month, and 3 months after treatment
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a clinician-rated interview designed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms and detect change resulting from treatment. It consists of 10 items evaluating core symptoms of depression: apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale ranging from 0 (symptom absent/normal) to 6 (severe/most abnormal). Individual item scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 60. Higher total scores reflect greater depression severity (typically classified as 0-6: normal/absent; 7-19: mild; 20-34: moderate; 35-60: severe). Outcome values represent the change in total score from baseline, where negative change values indicate clinical improvement in depressive symptoms.
Time frame: At each study visit, measured at baseline and 1-week, 1-month, and 3-months after treatment
Plan to share: No
Started Jun 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 18 months after the start.
Of 161 non-industry phase 2 interventional studies under Depression, half reached primary completion within 38 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 23 and three quarters within 51. This study's planned 18 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 257 studies reached it within 27 months; a quarter within 16 and three quarters within 41.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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