Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Prolonged Grief Disorder

This study is exploring a new way to help people who are experiencing 'prolonged grief disorder' (PGD). This is when grief after losing someone stays very intense and distressing for a long time, making it hard to cope. The new treatment, called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), sends gentle magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain that control mood. rTMS is already used for other mood problems and has been shown to be safe. We want to find out if this treatment is safe and could be a good option for people with prolonged grief, especially if current treatments aren't working well or have side effects.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Bruyère Health Research Institute.

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jul 2025

Estimated completion

30 Apr 2026

Prolonged Grief Disorder Complicated Grief

What is this study about?

Grief is a natural feeling after someone you love dies. Usually, with time, these intense feelings start to ease, and people learn to live with their loss. However, for some, the sadness and longing don't get better; instead, they become stronger and make everyday life very difficult. This is called 'prolonged grief disorder'. It means you might feel a deep yearning for the person who died, intense emotional pain, and find it hard to carry on with your life.

While prolonged grief used to affect fewer people, we've seen it become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic. If this type of grief isn't helped, it can lead to a lower quality of life and other health problems. We already have treatments like talking therapies and medicines, but sometimes these can take a long time to work or might have side effects that make them difficult for some people. That's why we're looking for new treatments that could work better and faster.

This study is investigating a treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS for short. It's a gentle, non-surgical treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain that are linked to our mood. rTMS has been approved in other countries for mood disorders and has been found to be safe and well-tolerated. It's also shown promise for conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which has some similar features to prolonged grief. Before we can say if rTMS works effectively for prolonged grief, we first need to make sure it's both safe and practical for people going through this difficult experience.

Key takeaways

This study explores a new treatment for prolonged grief disorder.
Prolonged grief is when intense sadness and longing last a long time after a loss.
The treatment, rTMS, uses magnetic pulses to affect brain areas linked to mood.
rTMS is a non-surgical treatment that has been found safe for other mood problems.
The main goal is to check if rTMS is safe and practical for people with prolonged grief.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, you need to be at least 18 years old and have been grieving the loss of a loved one. We'll use a special questionnaire to see if your grief symptoms match what we're looking for in the study.

You'll also need to have your own family doctor. It's important that you can understand and speak English well enough to follow what's happening and that you can give your agreement to take part yourself.

There are some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you've ever had seizures, have certain metal implants in your head (like clips or a pacemaker), or if you're currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant. We also can't include anyone with certain serious mental health conditions or a current severe addiction problem. If you have a serious illness and doctors expect you have less than three months to live, this study wouldn't be suitable either, as we want to focus on helping people with prolonged grief over a longer period.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you at least 18 years old?
Have you been struggling with intense grief for a long time after a loss?
Do you have a family doctor?
Can you understand and speak English clearly?
Do you have any metal implants in your head (pacemakers, clips, etc.)?
Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The detailed description of what participation involves is not provided in the original text (visits, assessments, medication, follow-up, total duration).

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer the chance to try a new treatment that might help with your prolonged grief, potentially improving your mood and overall well-being. However, as this is a new area of study for rTMS, there's no guarantee it will benefit you. There are potential risks, though rTMS is generally considered safe; some people might experience mild headaches or discomfort during treatment. You will be fully informed of all known and potential risks before deciding to join. Remember, you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Bruyere Health
Verified postcode
Ottawa, Canada

Common questions

What is prolonged grief disorder?

It's when the intense feelings of grief after losing someone don't get better over a long time (more than 6 months), making it very hard to cope with daily life.

What is rTMS?

rTMS, or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, is a treatment that uses gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain to help improve mood.

Is rTMS a surgical procedure?

No, rTMS is a non-invasive treatment, meaning it doesn't involve surgery or needles. The magnetic pulses are delivered from outside your head.

Has rTMS been used for other conditions?

Yes, rTMS has been used and approved for other mood disorders in some countries and has shown promise in conditions like PTSD.

Will taking part in the study cost me anything?

The information provided does not specify costs for participating, but clinical trials typically cover treatment-related costs for participants.

How to find out more

James Downar, MDCM, MHSc

jdownar@toh.ca 613-562-6262 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.