NCT05634941

Effect of ON-tDCS on Memory Function Improvement and Related Circuits in Stable Depression Patients

Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Greater Occipital Nerve on Memory Function Improvement and and the Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenergic Circuits in Stable Depression Patients

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

So far, antidepressant drugs have limited memory improvement. Transcranial direct current stimulation, as a non-invasive and safe neuroregulatory technique, is a new direction to improve memory.In this study, transcranial direct current stimulation of the greater occipital nerve was used to explore the effect of improving memory function in patients with stable depression, and related studies were conducted on the locus coeruleus-noadrenal loop and the functional connection between locus coeruleus, hippocampus and amygdala.

Detailed description

In this study, a randomized, controlled, double-blind design was adopted. Patients with depression were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group to receive true or fake tDCS stimulation respectively. Clinical data, memory and other related cognitive function assessment, EEG, resting state fMRI, saliva and blood indicators were collected two weeks before and two weeks after the intervention, and followed up for eight weeks. Finally, data correlation analysis was performed.

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Active ON-tDCS	DC was transmitted via a saline-soaked pair of surface sponges and delivered by specially developed, battery-driven, constant current stimulator with a maximum output of 2 mA. For each participant receiving ON-tDCS, the anodal electrode placed over the left C2 nerve dermatome, and cathodal electrode placed over the right C2 dermatome. A constant current of 1.5 mA was applied for 20 min.
DEVICE	Sham ON-tDCS	For sham group, placement of the electrodes was identical to that of active ON-tDCS. ON-tDCS was first switched on in a ramp-up fashion over 5 s. Current intensity (ramp down) was gradually reduced (over 5 s) as soon as ON-tDCS reached a current flow of 1.5 mA. Hence, sham ON-tDCS only lasted 10 s (as opposed to 20 min in the active group).

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-10-01
• Primary completion: 2023-12-31
• Completion: 2024-10-01
• First posted: 2022-12-02
• Last updated: 2022-12-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China