Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
A Randomized Rater-Blinded Trial Comparing Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation Targeting the Right Posterior Parietal Cortex and Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Military Hospital 175
40 participants
Sep 9, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This randomized, rater-blinded clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) in adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive cTBS targeting either the right posterior parietal cortex (R-PPC) or the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC). Participants may be psychotropic-medication naïve or may continue stable psychotropic medication according to the protocol-defined medication stability criteria. The primary objective is to compare changes in anxiety symptom severity, measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), from baseline to the end-of-treatment assessment. Secondary and exploratory assessments include treatment response and remission, quality of life, sleep quality, cognitive function, safety and tolerability, resting electroencephalography (EEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with EEG (TMS-EEG).
Eligibility
Plain Language Summary
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Interventions
Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) is delivered to the right posterior parietal cortex (R-PPC), identified at the P4 location of the international 10-20 EEG system. Each session consists of 600 pulses delivered at 80% of the resting motor threshold (RMT). Participants receive two sessions per treatment day, separated by 30 ± 5-minute intervals, for a total of 10 sessions over approximately 1 week.
Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) is delivered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC), identified using the Beam F4 approach. Each session consists of 600 pulses delivered at 100% of the resting motor threshold (RMT). Participants receive one session per treatment day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, for a total of 20 sessions.
Locations(1)
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NCT07770919