Depression and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

The University of New South Wales

Status and phase

Unknown

Phase 2

Phase 1

Conditions

Depression

Treatments

Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00256438

05125

Details and patient eligibility

About

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)is a non invasive technique which uses a very weak current to change excitability in targeted regions of the brain. Early studies suggest that it has antidepressant properties. This study will test the safety and efficacy of tDCS as a treatment for depression.

Full description

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applies a weak direct current across the scalp that can produce sub-threshold changes in the excitability of targeted cortical regions, in a polarity-specific manner. This technique has been used in humans to alter motor and visual cortex excitability, during stimulation, and for a period after the stimulation has ceased. It has therefore been suggested as a possible treatment for depression (Lippold & Redfearn, 1964; Nitsche, 2002). Studies have been launched recently to examine the effect of tDCS in depressed subjects and a sham-controlled pilot study (in USA, in press) has reported promising antidepressant effects with tDCS.

We wish to examine this in an investigation of 20 subjects, and hypothesise that tDCS will have an antidepressant effect and produce no neuropsychological impairment. Subjects will receive anodal DC stimulation or sham stimulation over the left prefrontal cortex in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design over 5 days, and then have daily stimulation up to a maximum of 10 active sessions in total. Outcomes will be formally evaluated by depression rating scales and neuropsychological tests.

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

DSM-IV Major Depressive Episode of less than or equal to 3 years
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale score of 25 or more
Aged 18-65
May or may not be taking antidepressant medication

Exclusion criteria

Not able to give written informed consent
Failure to respond to ECT in current or past episodes of depression
On antipsychotic, anticonvulsant or benzodiazepine medication which cannot be withdrawn.
Significant other Axis I psychiatric disorder e.g schizophrenia, bipolar
In imminent physical or psychological danger and needs a rapid clinical response due to inanition, psychosis or high suicidality
Drug or alcohol dependence or abuse currently or in the last 12 months
History of neurological illness e.g epilepsy; neurosurgical procedure
Metal in the cranium, pacemaker, cochlear implant, medication or other electronic device in the body
Woman of child-bearing age in whom pregnancy cannot be ruled out by B HCG