NCT05090397

MRI-Guided High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Depression

Applied Strategies for MRI-Guided High-Definition tDCS for Major Depression

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 26 (actual)
• Sponsor: Northwestern University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research is to understand how a neurostimulation technique, transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), affects brain function in adults with major depression measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study targets a specific kind of tES called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), where a mild, constant current is passed between electrodes placed on the scalp.

Detailed description

This is an investigator-initiated MRI research study of a noninvasive neurostimulation technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) using focal "high definition" (HD) electrodes positioned using pre-treatment MRI. Primary objective is to measure changes in brain function during MRI-guided HDtDCS with MRI. Secondary objective is to measure changes in depressive symptoms after five consecutive days of MRI-guided tDCS (20 minutes per session).

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation	Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) uses a mild electrical current to make small (or subtle) changes to how the brain works (or functions).
DEVICE	Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation	Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-07-01
• Primary completion: 2025-03-31
• Completion: 2025-03-31
• First posted: 2021-10-22
• Last updated: 2025-04-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States