Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

A Study of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Depression

Status

UNKNOWN

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01974076

Enrollment

135

Registered

2013-11-01

Start date

2014-05-31

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2014-12-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depression

Brief summary

This study will investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of depression.

Interventions

DEVICEActive tDCS + CBT

DEVICESham tDCS + CBT

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Participants will be ≥ 18 years old. 2. Have a DSM-IV diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode of minimum 4 weeks duration. 3. MADRS score ≥ 20 at study entry.

Exclusion criteria

1. Participant is unable to give informed consent. 2. DSM-IV diagnosis of psychotic disorder (lifetime). 3. Bipolar disorder diagnosis and not on a mood stabiliser. 4. Eating disorder (current or within past year). 5. Obsessive compulsive disorder (lifetime). 6. Post-traumatic stress disorder (current or within past year). 7. Mental retardation. 8. Drug or alcohol abuse or dependence (preceding 3 months). 9. Inadequate response to ECT (current episode of depression). 10. Rapid clinical response required, e.g., high suicide risk, inanition or psychosis. 11. Clinically defined neurological disorder or insult. 12. Metal in the cranium, skull defects, or skin lesions on scalp (cuts, abrasions, rash) at proposed electrode sites. 13. Pregnancy. 14. Concurrent long acting benzodiazepines, ritalin or dexamphetamine medication. 15. Change in psychotropic medication during 2-week period prior to the study or during the course of the 3-week trial. 16. Participant becomes hypomanic or manic, as defined by DSM-IV.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale for Depression (MADRS)	3 weeks

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale	3 weeks

Countries

Australia

Contacts

Primary ContactSandy Sacre

sandy.sacre@healthecare.com.au

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026