NCT00869765

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Augmentation by D-Cycloserine as a Treatment for Depression

An Open Pilot Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Augmented by D-Cycloserine as a Treatment for Depression.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 5 (actual)
• Sponsor: The University of New South Wales · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Among antidepressant treatments, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) stands as the most effective in treating acute depression. However, patient concerns with the cognitive side effects of ECT have encouraged the development of new and more focal forms of brain stimulation such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The investigators' current study of tDCS as a treatment for depression suggests that this technique has antidepressant effects and is safe, painless and well tolerated. However, not all patients may respond to this treatment and the concern of possible relapse in some patients who respond to tDCS has raised interest in finding treatments that may enhance and prolong the antidepressant effects of tDCS. This study will investigate whether D-Cycloserine, a medication shown to lengthen the effects of tDCS on brain activity, can also enhance/prolong the antidepressant effects of tDCS in people suffering from depression.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	D-Cycloserine	100 mg D-cycloserine once every weekday taken 2 hours before tDCS session.
DEVICE	tDCS (Eldith DC-Stimulator (CE certified))	tDCS session lasting continuously for 20 minutes at 2 mA. Conductive rubber electrodes (7 x 5 cm, 35 cm2) covered by sponges soaked in saline will be used, held in place by a head band. The current will be gradually increased to the level of 2 mA over 30 seconds (to avoid the sensation of a flash).

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-04-01
• Primary completion: 2010-09-01
• Completion: 2010-09-01
• First posted: 2009-03-26
• Last updated: 2010-09-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Australia