NCT06953596 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Prolonged Grief Disorder
| NCT ID | NCT06953596 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Bruyère Health Research Institute. |
| Condition | Prolonged Grief Disorder |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 15 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-11-28 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-06 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 15 participants in total. It began in 2025-11-28 with a primary completion date of 2027-06.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Grief is a normal response after the death of a loved one. With time, the grief response decreases and people learn to cope with their loss. However, for some, the response becomes more intense and distressing. This is called prolonged grief disorder (PGD). People with PGD experience emotional pain and a deep longing for their loved one. PGD normally occurs \<10% of people after a loss, but it has become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic (\~30%). If left untreated, PGD leads to poor quality of life and increased risk of death. Treatment options such as medication and therapy are available; however, they can cause negative side effects and take a long time to work. To help individuals with PGD, we need treatments that work well and quickly. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a safe, non-invasive treatment that delivers magnetic pulses to brain areas responsible for mood. rTMS has been approved in Canada to treat mood disorders. There is research to show that rTMS is safe and well-tolerated, and that works well in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a condition with similar symptoms to PGD. To determine whether rTMS is effective for treating PGD, we first need to determine if rTMS as a treatment for PGD is safe and feasible among grieving individuals.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Bereaved individuals \>/= 18 years of age 2. Score \>25 on the Inventory of Complicated Grief 3. Must have a primary care physician 4. Ability to understand and communicate in English 5. Ability to provide first-person informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current or previously diagnosed seizure disorder 2. Documented brain lesions 3. Contraindications to TMS (i.e., metallic skull plates, clips, stimulators, pacemakers) 4. Current substance abuse disorder (e.g., schizophrenia) 5. Pregnancy or lactation, or trying to conceive 6. Advanced, incurable illness with an expected prognosis of \<3 months - bereaved family members are known to be at elevated risk of death from medical illness, but if death is expected in the near future, it would be difficult to justify using an entire week of their limited time for an unproven therapy.
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06953596 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Prolonged Grief Disorder. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06953596 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06953596 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at jdownar@toh.ca for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06953596 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Ottawa, Canada.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06953596 clinical trial?
NCT06953596 is sponsored by Bruyère Health Research Institute.. The trial plans to enroll 15 participants.