Clinical trial NCT03632434: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Therapy for Major Depression
Official title: Acceptability and Feasibility of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Therapy as a Community-based Treatment for Major Depression
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder
Lead sponsor: University of East London
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Rosetrees Trust
name: King's College London
name: University College, London
name: University of Oxford
First posted: 2018-08-15
Enrollment: 26
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Depression is a prevalent and debilitating disorder. The most common treatments are antidepressant medications and talking therapies. However, for many individuals, these are not their treatment of choice. Furthermore, even following a full course of treatment with an antidepressant or talking therapy, over one third of patients continue to be unwell.

The novel brain stimulation treatment, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is a potential first-line treatment for major depression. The present research question is whether tDCS can be provided as a home-based treatment for major depression for adults with major depression.

Detailed description: The novel brain stimulation treatment, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is a potential first-line treatment for major depression. tDCS generates a small electric current which modulates how easy it is for active brain cells to discharge. The device is a neoprene cap worn over the head, and in the cap there are two electrodes, which are small metal discs, where the current comes from. tDCS does not directly stimulate brain cells to cause a seizure like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and it does not induce brain cells to discharge like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Clinical studies have shown that tDCS treatment could help to improve the symptoms of depression. The main side effects have been redness, skin irritation or sensations (itching, tingling or burning) under the electrodes. Less commonly reported side effects include headache or tiredness. tDCS is a portable and safe treatment.

The studies to date have mostly looked at tDCS treatment which has been provided in a research setting. This is a problem because the treatment requires daily sessions for several weeks which could limit whether individuals would be able to go every day. As tDCS is a portable and safe treatment, it could be provided in the community.

The study research question is whether tDCS could be provided as a home-based treatment for major depression. The study will include adults with major depression.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of major depressive disorder based on DSM-5 criteria
* minimum score of 16 on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D)

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of treatment-resistant depression
* comorbid psychiatric disorder
* significant risk of suicide or self harm
* any contraindications to tDCS, including implanted electronic medical devices

Primary outcomes:
measure: Clinical Response
timeFrame: At 6 weeks following course of tDCS treatment
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: London
country: United Kingdom
facility: University of East London
Study officials:
affiliation: University of East London
name: Cynthia Fu, MD PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Mutz J, Edgcumbe DR, Brunoni AR, Fu CHY. Efficacy and acceptability of non-invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of adult unipolar and bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised sham-controlled trials. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018 Sep;92:291-303. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.05.015. Epub 2018 May 12.
citation: Mutz J, Vipulananthan V, Carter B, Hurlemann R, Fu CHY, Young AH. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of non-surgical brain stimulation for the acute treatment of major depressive episodes in adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019 Mar 27;364:l1079. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l1079.
citation: Woodham R, Rimmer RM, Mutz J, Fu CHY. Is tDCS a potential first line treatment for major depression? Int Rev Psychiatry. 2021 May;33(3):250-265. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2021.1879030. Epub 2021 Mar 11.
citation: Woodham RD, Rimmer RM, Young AH, Fu CHY. Adjunctive home-based transcranial direct current stimulation treatment for major depression with real-time remote supervision: An open-label, single-arm feasibility study with long term outcomes. J Psychiatr Res. 2022 Sep;153:197-205. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.026. Epub 2022 Jul 8.