NCT01021709

Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Using Alternative Electrode Montages

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 29 (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, 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). Our 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 in the way that it is currently administered and the concern of possible relapse in some patients who respond to tDCS has raised interest in finding alternative, possibly more optimal ways of administering tDCS. This study will investigate whether using alternative electrode montages can improve the antidepressant effects of tDCS in people suffering from depression.

Conditions

• Major Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
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 \& 10 x 10 cm = 100 cm2) covered by sponges soaked in saline will be used, held in place by a 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: 2009-11-01
• Primary completion: 2015-11-01
• Completion: 2015-11-01
• First posted: 2009-11-30
• Last updated: 2016-05-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Australia